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TACTICAL BREAKDOWN: HOW MICHAEL CARRICK BEAT PEP GUARDIOLA WITH ONLY THIRTY PERCENT POSSESSION
Michael Carrick proves his tactical genius. Discover how Manchester United beat City with a shock low-possession game plan today.
Heading into the Manchester derby, everyone was talking about Michael Carrick—what kind of football would he bring to Old Trafford? He’d only managed United for three games as an interim back in 2021, and honestly, there wasn’t much to learn from that short spell.
Pep Guardiola said it pretty bluntly before the match: “If you don’t have much info on the opponent, you just focus on your own team.” Sure, you could look at what Carrick did at Middlesbrough or even those few games at United, but Pep pointed out that tactics come down to the players you’ve actually got on the pitch. And these United players are nothing like the ones Carrick had at Boro.
If Guardiola tried to read too much into Carrick’s time in the northeast, he’d be barking up the wrong tree. Yes, United lined up in the same 4-2-3-1 shape Carrick used at Boro, but the actual style? Completely different.
At Middlesbrough, Carrick’s team always wanted the ball. Against City, United were happy to let their rivals dominate possession. They knew they could defend when it really mattered. United ended up with just 32% possession—something you’d never expect from a Carrick side.
But that’s exactly what United needed. After the match, Bernardo Silva even admitted it: United “took the game to where they are good.” It worked, and honestly, not many saw that coming.
Not long ago, United felt stuck with managers who refused to adapt. Ruben Amorim, for instance, would’ve stuck with his 3-4-2-1 until it either worked or he got the sack.
Carrick’s different. You can already see it in how he uses his players. Take Kobbie Mainoo: after Carrick got the job, people dug up his old comments about the youngster—how he’s more of an attacker, not really a holding midfielder, needs a bit more freedom, and probably shouldn’t play too close to the centre-backs.
With that in mind, you’d think Mainoo would play further forward. Yet, there he was, next to Casemiro in central midfield for the full 90 minutes—and it worked like a charm.
Having a coach who’s willing to tweak his ideas, even if he’s only there short-term, is a huge plus for United. It keeps them unpredictable, and that’s going to make life a lot harder for anyone who tries to plan against them.
WORLD CUP BOUND? THOMAS TUCHEL CONFIRMS KOBBIE MAINOO IS "BACK IN THE PICTURE" NOW
Gary Neville blasts Ruben Amorim for "killing" Kobbie Mainoo's confidence. Discover how Michael Carrick revitalised the United star.
Gary Neville didn’t hold back about Ruben Amorim’s decision to keep Kobbie Mainoo on the sidelines. He called it the worst move Amorim made as Manchester United manager. Mainoo, just 20, didn’t start a single Premier League match before United sacked Amorim on January 5. Then Michael Carrick took over. Suddenly, Mainoo became a fixture in the lineup, and United rattled off four straight wins. The kid’s form has been so good; he’s now pushing for a late spot in England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Back when Amorim was running things, Mainoo thought he’d have to leave just to get the game time he needed for England manager Thomas Tuchel to notice him. That’s exactly why Neville thinks Amorim’s refusal to give Mainoo a chance helped lead to his downfall.
“Kobbie Mainoo didn’t even get a chance under Ruben, really,” Neville said on Stick to Football. “If you look at Mainoo now, in this team, it’s just obvious that was Ruben Amorim’s worst decision.”
After Amorim lost his job, Neville went even further. He said Amorim “killed” Mainoo’s development. “Honestly, I never liked how Mainoo was handled,” Neville said. “We’ve talked about it a lot on this show. When Amorim said at the start of the season that it was either him or Bruno Fernandes, I didn’t agree. It killed Mainoo’s confidence, and then he barely played just that one cup game against Grimsby.”
Now, with Amorim gone, Mainoo has a shot to keep proving people wrong, starting with United’s trip to Everton next Monday. Another strong game, and he’d make a real case for Tuchel to call him up for England’s friendlies in March.
Tuchel himself just said Mainoo is “back in the picture” for England, along with United teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. Speaking at the Nations League draw on Thursday, Tuchel called Mainoo “a huge talent". He added, “He’s already played a tournament for England from start to finish. So he’s back, and so are Luke and Harry. Suddenly, there are a few players back in the mix. United are playing with a back four and a different style now, which fits better with what we’re doing. That’s real competition.”
RED TO BLUE? WHY MANCHESTER UNITED ARE PLOTTING A SHOCK ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER RAID
Manchester United are targeting Alexis Mac Allister! Get the latest on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s shock raid on rivals Liverpool today.
Manchester United are actually considering a move for Alexis Mac Allister, a star currently playing for their old rivals, Liverpool. Right now, United’s putting together a shortlist of midfielders they want to go after in the summer, and Mac Allister’s name keeps popping up. The people in charge at Old Trafford are watching his situation closely.
There’s a lot of talk about Mac Allister possibly leaving Liverpool when the season ends. He’s still under contract at Anfield until 2028, but his season hasn’t gone smoothly. He’s struggled to hit top form, and, honestly, you can tell it’s been a tough year for him.
Getting Mac Allister out of Liverpool would be a massive challenge for United. Sure, a few players have worn both shirts – Michael Owen and Paul Ince come to mind – but it’s rare. Nobody’s moved directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall did it back in 1964. That kind of transfer just doesn’t happen.
No one knows yet if Mac Allister even wants to leave Liverpool. He has said he’d like to play in Spain one day, so that’s something to think about. United also realises that, unless they make the Champions League, signing a player of his calibre just isn’t realistic.
Still, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s co-owner, wants to explore every option. If Mac Allister becomes available, United would be interested, no question.
Mac Allister only joined Liverpool from Brighton last summer for £55 million, then helped them win the Premier League. Before that, he played a huge part in Argentina’s World Cup win over France in 2022. No wonder he’s seen as one of the best midfielders in the world.
United’s not just looking at him, though. They’re also keeping an eye on Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and Elliot Anderson as they try to shake up their midfield for next season.
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