Old Trafford erupted as Michael Carrick marked his return to the Manchester United dugout with a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
In a high-intensity Premier League clash, the Red Devils didn’t just win—they dominated. Despite having three goals ruled out by VAR, United’s clinical second-half performance proved too much for Pep Guardiola’s side, moving Carrick’s men into the Champions League spots.
VAR Drama at Old Trafford
The first half was a tale of “what could have been” for United. Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes both thought they had broken the deadlock, only for the referee to signal offside on both occasions. The tension was palpable, with refereeing decisions and three yellow cards—for Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, and City’s Rodri—highlighting the fierce rivalry.
Second Half: The Breakthrough
The momentum finally shifted in the second half. Following a lightning-fast counter-attack orchestrated by Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese playmaker found Bryan Mbeumo, who calmly slotted the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 1-0.
The lead was doubled shortly after. Super-sub Matheus Cunha made an instant impact, threading a perfect pass to Patrick Dorgu. The Danish talent showed ice-cold composure to finish beautifully, leaving City with a mountain to climb.
A Statement Win for Carrick
City attempted a late surge, but United’s defense held firm. Mason Mount even found the net in the dying minutes, though it was also ruled out for offside—marking the third disallowed goal of the afternoon.
The 2-0 win propels Manchester United to fourth place in the Premier League standings. For Michael Carrick, who recently made headlines by dismissing criticism from Roy Keane, this victory is the ultimate response to the doubters.
MANCHESTER. IS. REDDDDD! 🤩❤️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2026
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
