MANCHESTER UNITED took a giant step towards Champions League qualification after moving into the top five of the Premier League with an impressive win over rivals Manchester City.
Taking charge of his first game since being named as the Red Devils head coach through to the end of the season, Michael Carrick masterminded an emphatic victory over Pep Guardiola.
Even by Guardiola’s admission the better team won on the day, and if anything the 2-0 scoreline was flattering to City because United saw three goals ruled out for offside and hit the woodwork twice.
As noted by SunSport’s Man Utd correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, Old Trafford generated its best atmosphere of the season for the derby and the players fed that by producing one of United’s best displays in many years.
It was obvious how much all the players brought into the tactics deployed by Carrick and his staff, and in just three days of coaching it was an impressive turnaround against a title-challenging team following the limp loss to Brighton in the FA Cup.
But how did this happen? SunSport’s tactics guru Dean Scoggins has looked at five key points from the derby in the latest episode of our Tactics Exposed show which you can check out on YouTube or at the top of this article.
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Thank Bruno
Bruno, Bruno, Bruno. The United skipper delivered a captain’s performance against City that not even the United mafia could complain about.
Six chances created – four of which were classified as big chances by Opta – with a brilliant assist for Bryan Mbeumo‘s opener was the icing on the cake of a total performance from the Portuguese, who played in a “jack in the box” role.
Looking at his average position, the 31-year-old was seen often occupying the space to the right of City’s defensive midfielder Rodri.
This allowed him to either stretch the City defence by going in behind or go deep to receive the ball and hook it around the corner for one of the attacking runs in behind.
The other tactical note from the playmaker’s display was his discipline in NOT getting involved in “scraps”, which he has had a tendency to do due to his burning desire to win.
However, with Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro putting in the grunt work in midfield, this left Fernandes free to be the danger man with his passing when United broke forward.
Throughout the game United were ready to spring out of the defence, hence the comparison to a jack in the box with how quickly the counters were when the ball was turned over.
This tactic worked perfectly and was perfectly encapsulated by the opening goal, with Mbeumo flicking it to Fernandes when a City free-kick was cleared before the pair were joined by Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu in the lightning counter.
Defensively he was also a shining light as he went alongside Mbeumo into a 4-4-2 shape, which put him on to marking Bernardo Silva in midfield and putting the pressure of playing out on the back of young centre-back Max Alleyne, who simply did not have the answers for that.
And as the leader of the United press he was absolutely brilliant throughout.
Bryan ‘ad Em
Mbeumo returned from Afcon duty with a bang thanks to his opener, reminding everyone he is United’s best finisher.
Tactically his role was to not occupy any of the City defenders and was to in fact move the opposite way to them.
When City’s midfield moved up Mbeumo moved to occupy the space between the lines, while when they dropped back he went back in-between to make an option in to feet.
This fluid role – something we discussed in our Team Talk show as something Carrick did at former club Middlesbrough – created utter indecision for City as they did not know how to mark him.
This partnership with Fernandes and combined with the flying wingers of Amad and Dorgu worked wonders for United.
Midfield bouncers
Mainoo was named to the starting XI of a United Premier League team for the first time since a 2-0 loss to West Ham at Old Trafford on May 11 2025, and what an impact he made alongside “uncle” Casemiro.
We won’t get carried away with it as it was just one game, but this week it was clear there was a real emphasis on them working as a real pair to screen the defence – which subsequently earned United a third clean sheet of the season.
The pair were the muscle on the pitch, with the likes of Phil Foden not getting a kick as City failed to muster a shot on target against this United “forcefield”.
That is former England assistant Steve Holland all over, with Mainoo playing the same role at the Euros in 2024.
Looking at his heat map his off the ball work was superb, and even on the ball he was delightful with his “bounce passes” which got the ball into Fernandes to spring the United counter-attacks.
Even after an hour when commentary noted how he look knackered, Mainoo was still going at the end of the match.
Pass the parcel
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez produced a defensive masterclass against the Prem’s top scorer in Erling Haaland.
Many teams now want to go man for man when marking, but United expertly managed the space Haaland tried to occupy.
And instead of Haaland being able to lead them away from a stable position, United had an extra man thanks to the 4-4-2 block.
Martinez managed to bully Haaland despite the pre-match suggestions of Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, while Maguire put on a masterclass in terms of communication and put down a real case why he should be given a new deal in the summer.
Who let the Dorg out?
Dorgu was the surprise name in the starting XI off the left wing for the derby but didn’t look a step behind with United having a perfect balance.
His direct running gave United a real dangerous outlet holding the width on the left and giving them someone who could track and pin Rico Lewis.
Shaw was often seen tucking in almost like a third centre-back with Dorgu acting like a wing-back in echoes of Ruben Amorim‘s 3-4-3, but his more advanced role eventually saw him nip in at the far post ahead of Lewis to score the crucial second goal.
It would not be surprising to see him in this position more often going forward.
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