Michael Carrick Provides Platform For United Next Boss, Says Neville

Michael Carrick extended Manchester United's positive run as permanent head coach with a 2-0 derby win over Manchester City, but Gary Neville stressed the real task is long term, saying Carrick must leave

the team in strong shape for whoever eventually replaces Carrick in the Old Trafford dugout.

The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu within 11 minutes, lifted Manchester United to within one point of fourth place. Manchester United posted an expected goals figure of 2.27 from 11 shots, seven on target, while restricting Manchester City to 0.45 xG and only seven efforts.

Carrick was appointed to lead Manchester United until the end of the 2025-26 season and has yet to lose a league game as manager, including this start and a previous caretaker spell in 2021, giving Carrick a combined record of four matches, three wins and one draw in charge.

Neville welcomed Manchester United's display under Michael Carrick yet warned supporters not to overreact so early in the tenure. "It is not a time to get giddy or carried away, said Neville. Michael Carrick has laid a foundation today for the next four months. And if he can continue to lay that foundation here with that level of performance for the next four months, the person who picks up the batoncan be in a good place. "

Neville linked Michael Carrick's challenge to earlier transitions at Manchester United, noting that "Ralf Rangnick came, it didn't quite happen in terms of that handover. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in and then got given the job. Michael Carrick's got to hand that baton over in good shape, and that is an unbelievable start for him. "

A key part of the win under Michael Carrick was Bruno Fernandes returning to a high attacking midfield role for Manchester United, after recent deeper duties under Ruben Amorim. Fernandes assisted Mbeumo's opener on 65 minutes, taking Fernandes to nine league assists this season, with only 2020-21 and 2024-25 bringing more for Fernandes.

Fernandes also led Manchester United in several metrics during the match under Michael Carrick. Fernandes recorded 12 final-third entries, created six chances, had 65 touches, completed 46 passes and delivered 29 passes into the final third. Neville felt this illustrated why Fernandes should remain advanced, saying: "That's where he's got to play, be near to goal, be where you can hurt them, because he's a great player, Neville said of Fernandes' display. We don't want to see him back in a midfield two in front of a back three. Is that where we want to see him? No, it's definitely not right. "

Neville argued the performance under Michael Carrick also reconnected Manchester United with habits from Sir Alex Ferguson's era. "I just saw so many things that reminded me of what this club plays like, what their DNA is, what they should be, Neville added. I've always said Manchester United's system is such. You have a forward, and then you have a No 10, it can be [Dwight] Yorke, it can be Cantona, it can be [Wayne] Rooney, it can be [Carlos] Tevez, it can be [Dimitar] Berbatov. Those players that just drop in off a striker, Scholes did it for a number of years. We've always had that most talented player close to our striker and feeding them, and that's what made me a little bit emotional on that goal. "

With Manchester United now within reach of the top four and Michael Carrick still unbeaten as manager across both spells, Neville sees promise but emphasised that consistent performances over the remaining months will decide whether Carrick passes on a squad, and playing identity, that allows the next head coach a stable starting point.