Carrick: Manchester derby is different now, we're really looking forward to it

Ahead of the Manchester derby, Manchester United manager Carrick was interviewed by Sky Sports, discussing the team's performance after returning to the Champions League, how the Manchester derby has evolved over the years, and the team's midfield reinforcements this summer. This is the first part of the interview.

Michael, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us again. Before we talk about Sunday's match, let's discuss last night. The team is back in the Champions League and achieved a very solid win. I think this also proves the work you, the players, and the staff did last season, which brought a Champions League night back to Old Trafford.

It feels great. The match went very smoothly; essentially everything we hoped to see before the match happened. This match also brought a lot of positive things; the fans went home happy and enjoyed the night.

It's great to be back in this competition and to start our Champions League journey in such a strong way. It was an important night for us, and the players fully seized the opportunity.

What did it feel like to hear the Champions League anthem again? After all, it's been a few years since the fans at Old Trafford last heard that melody.

Yes, it has been a while. In recent years, our performance in this competition has not met our expectations. So in a way, this reflects the progress we are trying to make and the direction we want to move forward. I think the work we did last season and the strong finish gave us this opportunity. Now that we are here, we hope to make the most of it.

You just talked about getting to this position. It all started with the Manchester derby, right? That was your first game in charge of the team. I know you've mentioned before that the first week was full of unknowns, and no one knew how the team would perform in their first game at Old Trafford. But when you were actually there, sitting on the bench, watching the team perform like that and get that result, what did it feel like?

That was a very special day, I have to say. It was truly special. However, that's in the past now. We've moved on from it and won't keep dwelling on it. Of course, it's a great memory, and one of those very good days.

But we quickly moved forward. I think the players gained confidence and belief from that game, and they remember the emotions they felt that day and what it takes to win such a match.

However, we won't look back too much. Now it's a new game, a new occasion, and the situation is completely different. We must try to seize this opportunity.

Of course. Speaking of the Manchester derby, you've experienced it as a player, been involved as a coach, and now you're the Manchester United manager. How have you seen this derby evolve into the rivalry it is today?

To be honest, when I first came to this club, this derby was not the same as it is now. That's very obvious. Over the past 20 years, this match has gradually developed and changed. Now it has become a different game from before.

Of course, it has always been an important match. The derby has always been exciting, but now it carries different meaning. We are very much looking forward to it. It's a challenge, and the opponent is obviously a very good team. From their perspective, they have strengthened their squad and invested considerable effort in making those improvements.

However, so have we. We also believe we are a very good team and are capable of competing. When we are at our best, we are a very, very good team. So we are looking forward to this match.

Was there a specific moment or match that made you feel the derby had changed? Or was it a relatively gradual process? Was there a time when you walked into such a derby and clearly felt different emotions than before, or a greater sense of tension?

I have to think back. I'm not entirely sure. I think there was a game we eventually lost that, in a sense, cost us the league title – the one where Kompany scored a late header in the season.

At that point, we had some advantage, then we lost it, and ultimately we lost the title again at the end of the season. I think that was a very important moment. Some changes might have already happened before that, because by that stage, they were actually starting to win league titles consistently.

But other than that, I can't think of a particularly clear moment. Maybe it's because we lost that game that it felt especially painful. You tend to remember such games most vividly.

Returning to this derby, this is also the first time in 10 years that you are facing a Manchester derby where the opposing manager is not Guardiola. What do you think about his influence on this match and on the history of this derby?

Pep has done an excellent job. That's very obvious, and probably many people have already said it. I have great respect for the work he has done and great respect for the success he has achieved – unfortunately for us, of course, because that success came from him leading the opposition.

Now the situation has changed somewhat. There have also been changes at the coaching and managerial level across the league, so we'll see what that brings.

Speaking of strengthening the team, as you just mentioned, Manchester United strengthened their midfield, and Manchester City did the same. Looking at most of the new signings from both sides, a very prominent characteristic of these midfielders seems to be their physical ability. Do you think this also reflects the direction of development in today's Premier League?

Possibly. However, I think technical ability is equally important. At least in our squad, especially our midfield, we have very strong technical ability. From the team's performance, the way we play now, and the team's development, as well as the understanding between the players and the connections that are gradually building, I think we have demonstrated this. So I think we are moving in a very good direction. We feel we have made considerable progress.

For some of these new midfield signings, this will be their first Manchester derby. Will you talk to them specifically about it? I know they must have experienced other types of derbies in their careers, but what would you convey to those players experiencing the Manchester derby for the first time?

Of course, we will discuss these things and help the players understand what certain matches mean. Especially what these matches mean to the fans, what they mean to the club, and their significance in the club's history. I think this is part of connecting with the club after you arrive; you need to understand and respect these things.

The players are fully aware of what this game means for various reasons. Of course, for us, the most important thing is to win the game.

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What did it feel like to hear the Champions League anthem again? After all, it's been a few years since the fans at Old Trafford last heard that melody.

Of course. Speaking of the Manchester derby, you've experienced it as a player, been involved as a coach, and now you're the Manchester United manager. How have you seen this derby evolve into the rivalry it is today?

Was there a specific moment or match that made you feel the derby had changed? Or was it a relatively gradual process? Was there a time when you walked into such a derby and clearly felt different emotions than before, or a greater sense of tension?

Returning to this derby, this is also the first time in 10 years that you are facing a Manchester derby where the opposing manager is not Guardiola. What do you think about his influence on this match and on the history of this derby?

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