Towering Maguire typified Carrick's message... United were fantastic, City were just a pale imitation of themselves

WITH his knee bloodied after another tangle with Erling Haaland, Harry Maguire limped into his own penalty area to help defend the freekick he had conceded.

- ANDY DUNN

Moments later, he was producing a towering header to set up the counter-attack that ended with Bryan Mbeumo giving Michael Carrick a dream start to his 17-game Manchester United audition.

That dream start became fantasy when Patrick Dorgu doubled the delirium before Old Trafford was treated to the symbolic sight of Haaland's misery being ended by City boss Pep Guardiola.

For United, that was just one beautiful moment on a beautiful afternoon.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in town, and one match into his tenure, Carrick has already made a compelling case to get the gig for next season. Seriously.

Maguire's own performance typified the response Carrick got from United's players.

Quite simply, they were more aggressive, more determined, more passionate, and more committed than a City side that, at times, looked as though they did not believe a serious title race was still in progress.

United were fantastic, City, a pale imitation of themselves.

As belligerent and as bold as Maguire and his teammates were, Guardiola's men were meek and weak.