The Athletic FC Podcast Is Carrick more than a short-term fix for Man United?
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Jan 19, 2026 
Carl Anka, a Manchester United writer for The Athletic, and football journalist Oli Kay dive into Michael Carrick's impressive start as caretaker after a victory over Manchester City. They explore whether Carrick's brief reign could signal lasting change or if history is repeating with nostalgic leanings causing potential pitfalls. The duo also highlights the impact of new signings like Marc Guehi on City and reacts to the thrilling AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco. Tune in for their insights on transformation versus tradition in football.
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United's Derby Display Was Unusually Dominant
- Manchester United showed rare front-foot domination and high XG versus City, not just a smash-and-grab.
- Carl Anka argues this displayed structure, clarity and purpose unseen in recent seasons.
Low Possession, High Transitional Threat
- United won with 32% possession by attacking in quick transitions rather than controlling the ball.
- The panel notes this counter-attacking template has repeatedly yielded results for United under various managers.
Use Transition Football As Short-Term Plan
- Michael Carrick can exploit transition football short-term to win enough matches in his brief spell.
- Focus on lethal counterattacks now and defer solving deep-defence breakdowns to a longer-term manager.