New manager bounces!
Michael Carrick’s second spell as interim head coach of Manchester United could not have started much better, with the Red Devils’ city rivals deservedly defeated.
This is what we saw at Old Trafford.
FODEN INJURED… OR NOT?
Before we get excited about United, an update on City’s injuries – sort of.
Phil Foden (£8.7m) lasted just 45 minutes of Saturday’s derby, with the England international and young centre-back Max Alleyne (£4.5m) hooked at half-time. Reports, such as the one below, suggested it was related to a hand injury.
Foden left Old Trafford with his right hand heavily bandaged. Must wait for the results of scans to determine the severity of the injury #mcfc https://t.co/rGmKqWJpPT
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 17, 2026
However, Pep Guardiola was none the wiser in his post-match presser, saying the substitution was tactical.
“No, it was my decision.” – Pep Guardiola on whether Phil Foden’s half-time substitution was injury-related
“No, I don’t think so.” – Pep Guardiola, when asked again if Phil Foden had a hand injury
If there is an issue that the city boss simply wasn’t aware of, we’ll get another update on Foden on Monday. Guardiola will meet the media ahead of the midweek clash with Bodo/Glimt.
But if he is fit, will he start in Gameweek 23? Guardiola quoted Rayan Cherki‘s (£6.8 million) attributes as the reason for Foden’s withdrawal. After Antoine Semenyo‘s ( £7.6m ) arrival, and with Omar Marmoush (£8.3m) now back and Jeremy Doku (£6.4m) available, it could be an either/or with the two in some games.
“I didn’t have Rayan Cherki, to have his composure with the ball, to find someone in the final third – we didn’t have that [that] in the first [half].” – Pep Guardiola on why he took Phil Foden to Match of the Day
Matheus Nunes (£5.5 million) incidentally missed the derby due to illness.
POSITIVE UNITED
Even if the match had remained at 0-0, or if City had scored a late winner, we would still have written about a very positive performance from Manchester United. Indeed, Guardiola said the “better team won”.
Carrick sent his side out in a fan-pleasing 4-2-3-1, but it was as much about attitude and aggression as it was about formation. United attacked with speed and energy and defended as if their lives depended on it, from the relentless pressure from the front to Harry Maguire‘s ( £4.3 million ) drops from Erling Haaland (£15.1 million). It was the kind of intensity that has been missing from United’s performances in recent years.
The question now: can they support this? And more importantly, can they attack with the same goal when they encounter lower blocks from Gameweek 24?
City played into United’s hands with their high line and by allowing their hosts to break at pace. The Red Devils’ biggest problem in recent years has often been in cutting open stubborn back lines.
United have even done that this season won all five matches in which they had less than 45% possession. They only won four of the other eighteen.
A different kind of challenge awaits Carrick from Gameweek 24 – but there wasn’t much more he could have done here.
BRILLIANT BRUNO
Carrick said, as predicted Bruno Fernandes (£9.1m) up the pitch.
Fernandes was nominally the ’10’ in a 4-2-3-1, but he was actually part of a front two in the press and tried to run past the last man on a few occasions via through balls.
Although his shot count was officially ‘zero’, this is how close he came to scoring when he hit a Lisandro Martinez (£4.8m) pass to find the net:
While United’s low possession percentage of 32% meant he didn’t see as much of the ball as usual, the share of his possession in the final third was near the highest level of the season:
And as always, he created several chances. Six, in fact, the joint highest of Gameweek 22. One was converted by Bryan Mbeumo (£8.1 million) for the match opener, but there should have been other/further assists: a point-blank range header from Maguire that hit the crossbar, huge chances for Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu (£4.2 million) saved, a Amad Diallo (£6.2 million) effort that hit the post.
Fernandes even saved DefCon and bonus points for a double-digit win.
Despite the tough match, he is already the most bought player of Gameweek 23 and will certainly attract even more FPL interest from Gameweek 24.
“I thought he was fantastic again today. The way he played the position, he’s so smart and he takes up spaces. He had a big discipline role, him and Bryan [Mbeumo] Also too defensive to protect the team as much as possible against everything that comes through the middle.” – Michael Carrick on Bruno Fernandes
‘OOP’ DORGU + MBEUMO, CARRICK ON CUNHA BANK
Carrick pulled off a few surprises with his team scheme, using Dorgu and Amad on either flank and Mbeumo up top. That’s what it meant Benjamin Sesko (£7.2 million) and Matheus Cunha (£8.1 million) fell into the bank.
“We have a good squad. There will always be players disappointed if they don’t start, but finishing the game can be even more important. They have a lot of talent and it is nothing personal.” – Michael Carrick speaks to Sky Sports about why he benched Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, reported here
Cunha looked as if he had taken the bench like a kick in the ass when he came on, darted around and set up Dorgu for United’s second. A second assist was disallowed for offside.
The Brazilian may still have to play second fiddle in Gameweek 23, especially as there will likely be a similar hit-the-on-the-break game plan at the Emirates. Could Cunha and Sesko perhaps come back into the equation in games with more ball possession? Time will tell.
Of course, they will have to get past Dorgu and Mbeumo in their respective positions. Both players were a threat (and were on the scoresheet too), with all five of their combined efforts coming from 12 yards out or closer.
MAGUIRE A COLOSSUS
The team magazine predicted bad news Ayden heaven (£3.8m) owners, although he was always on borrowed time until Maguire and/or Matthijs de Ligt (£4.9 million) returned. Saturday it was Maguire.
It remains to be seen whether this clean sheet – only United’s third of the 2025/2026 season – heralds a more defensively sound era or is merely a false dawn. Maguire, with his aerial threat from corners (he hit the crossbar from one angle), is one to watch at a low price of £4.3m.
Martinez, meanwhile, picked up DefCon points.
“I’m not going to lie, it was also a bit of a calculated gamble as to how long he could play and whether he could get through it, because he literally trained two or three days for probably eight or nine weeks, so it just shows you what it really means to him. I thought he was fantastic. Between him and Licha, they were so solid at the back and gave us the foundation to build on.” – Michael Carrick on Harry Maguire
A LACK OF ‘OOMPH’
It is only one non-penalty goal in four matchweeks for Manchester City, which of course conveniently ignores last weekend’s 10-goal win over Exeter City.
City recorded their lowest xG of the season (0.45) and it’s hard to think of a decent chance they had. An Alleyne header that was clawed away and one Antoine Semenyo (£7.6m) shots that went wide were about the best of them all.
Midweek efforts against Newcastle United may have been a factor.
“There is a lack of spirit in a lot of games. We cannot rotate many players. Against Newcastle.” [in the EFL Cup]Look in the second half, how good we were. We missed that today.” – Pep Guardiola
Semenyo was the only striker to last the full 90 minutes, with even Haaland withdrawing. Guardiola had described the Norwegian as “exhausted” earlier this week, and there was a hint of that at Old Trafford. Perhaps the returning Marmoush can lighten the load in midweek cup matches, with Haaland now on a run of four clean sheets in five matchweeks.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (£5.7m) was one of the few Cityzens to emerge with much credit, with five saves, along with Abdukodir Khusanov (£5.4 million).
Nico O’Reilly (£5.2m), meanwhile, failed to start at left-back for the fourth game in a row. He did feature in the second half to provide some hope for Gameweek 23, but remember that Marc Guehi (£5.3m) is on its way to the club soon. Nathan Ake (£5.3m) may therefore remain competition for O’Reilly Rayan Ait-Nouri (£5.7 million), even if Alleyne’s goose is cooked.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on Max [Alleyne]. That’s why Nico [O’Reilly] in that position he knows a little better, and that was the reason.” – Pep Guardiola on why he took Max Alleyne off at half-time and moved Nathan Aké from left back to centre-back
#FPL #notes #Bruno #brilliant #Foden #injury #mixup