The air at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026, felt different. Heavy. You could almost taste the desperation in the rain.
Manchester United were a mess, or so the papers said. Ruben Amorim was gone, having lasted only 14 months, and Michael Carrick was back in the hot seat as caretaker. Nobody—and I mean absolutely nobody—gave United a prayer against a Manchester City side that, while missing some heavy hitters like Ruben Dias and John Stones, still had Erling Haaland leading the line.
Then the whistle blew.
By the 90th minute, the "noisy neighbors" were the ones being silenced. Manchester United 2, Manchester City 0. It wasn't just a win; it was a tactical masterclass from a guy most people thought was just a "safe pair of hands" to finish the season.
The Carrick Revolution: How Man City vs Man U Flipped the Script
If you looked at the betting odds before kickoff, you'd think United were playing with ten men. But Carrick did something smart. He stopped trying to be clever. He sat the team in a mid-to-low block, kept the distances between the midfield and defense tiny, and waited for City to overextend.
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It worked. Honestly, it worked better than anyone expected.
City had the ball. They always have the ball. But with Rodri forced to play with a makeshift defense including Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov, the usual "City wall" had cracks. United's front line—specifically Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu—exploited those cracks like they were seasoned veterans.
The Goals That Shocked the Etihad Faithful
The breakthrough didn't come from a sustained period of pressure. It came from a classic United counter.
- The Mbeumo Opener (65'): Harry Maguire, who looked like his 2018 self, headed away a City free-kick. Bruno Fernandes, ever the conductor, pinged a ball to Mbeumo. A quick exchange, a calm finish, and Old Trafford exploded.
- The Dorgu Dagger (76'): This one was all about the new blood. Matheus Cunha, coming off the bench, beat Nico O’Reilly on the wing and put it on a plate for Patrick Dorgu. 2-0. Game over.
Man City vs Man U: The All-Time Numbers
People love to argue about who "owns" Manchester. If you look at the raw history, United still holds the edge, but the gap has been shrinking for a decade.
After this latest January 2026 clash, the record stands at:
- Total Meetings: 198
- United Wins: 81
- City Wins: 62
- Draws: 55
United fans will tell you about the 1990s when they went 16 games unbeaten. City fans will point to the 6-3 demolition in 2022 or the 3-0 win at the Etihad earlier this season in September 2025. Both sides have a point. But what's wild is that Wayne Rooney still holds the crown for most derby goals with 11. Erling Haaland is sitting on 8. He’s closing in, but today, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire basically put him in their pockets.
Why the "Gap" Is Narrowing (Tactically Speaking)
Under Pep Guardiola, City has turned the derby into a game of chess. They want to starve you of the ball until you get bored and make a mistake. United, conversely, has spent the last five years trying to find an identity.
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In this latest match, we saw City struggle without their primary ball-carriers. No Gvardiol meant less protection on the left. No Kovacic meant Rodri had to do the work of two men. When you play Man City vs Man U, you can't afford to be missing 30% of your starting XI, even if you are Pep.
What Most Fans Get Wrong About This Rivalry
The biggest misconception is that City is "invincible" in the modern era. While they’ve won nine of the last 15 derbies, United has a weird habit of showing up when they are at their lowest point.
Remember the 2024 FA Cup Final? United were written off then, too. Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner, and Erik ten Hag got another year of life. It’s a pattern. United thrives on the "us against the world" mentality, especially at Old Trafford.
Another myth? That Haaland always scores. In the 17th January match, he barely had a sniff. Senne Lammens, United's keeper, only had to make one major save all game. That tells you everything you need to know about United's defensive discipline under Carrick's short-term guidance.
Key Players Who Defined the 2026 Derby
- Amad Diallo: Coming back from AFCON, he was a nightmare for Nathan Ake. He hit the post late in the game and basically dictated the tempo on the right wing.
- Bruno Fernandes: The stats won't show it, but his defensive work rate was insane. He was popping up in his own box to clear crosses before sprinting 60 yards to start the break.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma: If it wasn't for the City keeper, this could have been 4-0. He made world-class saves from Dorgu and Mbeumo early on.
The Road Ahead for Both Clubs
City is now in a real fight. Arsenal is six points clear at the top of the Premier League, and this loss puts massive pressure on Guardiola to get his injured stars back before the Champions League knockouts. For United, the "Carrick Bounce" is real. They've jumped to 5th place, and for the first time in months, the fans aren't booing at full time.
How to Follow the Next Manchester Derby
If you're looking to catch the next chapter of this rivalry, keep an eye on the spring fixtures.
- Check official club apps (Man Utd or Man City) for ticket ballots.
- The return of key players like Oscar Bobb and Savinho will likely change City’s dynamic completely.
- Watch the tactical shift: Will Carrick stay as "Head Coach" or will United hunt for another big name like Thomas Frank or Xabi Alonso?
To truly understand where these teams are headed, you have to look at the youth integration. Seeing guys like Max Alleyne and Nico O’Reilly start for City proves that Pep is thinking about the next five years, not just the next five games. United’s reliance on Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo shows they are finally building around a core rather than just buying expensive superstars.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the Premier League injury reports for February. If City doesn't get Ruben Dias back in the lineup, their defensive fragility against fast counter-attacking teams will continue to be a problem. For United fans, watch the contract status of Michael Carrick; if he keeps this momentum, the "interim" tag might just disappear by May. Check the official Premier League standings weekly to see if United can actually sustain this push for a Champions League spot.