Michael Carrick has made an immediate impact in his second tenure as Manchester United's head coach, guiding the team to a significant 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City in a derby match on January 17, 2026. This triumph at Old Trafford marked Carrick's first game since his appointment as interim manager until the end of the 2025/26 season, a role he officially took on January 13, 2026. The impressive win comes shortly after the departure of former head coach Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed on January 5, 2026, after a tenure that began in November 2024. The Goal.com article highlights how Carrick's leadership 'unshackled' Bruno Fernandes, whose influential performance, including leading a crucial breakaway for one of the goals, was key to United's success. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu secured the memorable win for the Reds, avenging a previous 3-0 defeat to City in September. Conversely, Manchester City's loss has been linked, in the original article, to their failure to secure Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi quickly enough. While City is indeed finalizing a deal to sign Guehi for approximately £20 million, with manager Pep Guardiola confirming the transfer is 'close' as of January 17, 2026, the direct causal link between his absence in this specific derby and City's performance is an editorialized commentary rather than a factual cause. The ongoing transfer talks for Guehi reflect City's efforts to address defensive needs, which became particularly pertinent following their derby defeat. This news is highly relevant to football audiences globally, including India, given the immense popularity of the Premier League.