Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has refused to embrace Elliot Anderson’s bold description of Manchester City as the “kings of Manchester” ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League derby at Old Trafford.
Anderson made the controversial declaration shortly after completing his £116 million move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City during the summer. The England midfielder quickly won over his new supporters with his confidence, but his comments have added an extra layer of tension to his first Manchester derby.
Carrick, however, has made it clear that he will not be using Anderson’s phrase when preparing his Manchester United players for the encounter.
Asked about the comment ahead of the derby, Carrick said he was “definitely not using that phrase at all,” while acknowledging that the changing expectations around United are a sign of the progress the club has made.
The United boss has plenty of reason to believe that the rivalry is about more than a single period of dominance.
Manchester City have enjoyed remarkable success over the past decade, particularly since Manchester United last won the Premier League title in 2013. City have collected multiple league championships and established themselves as one of England’s most successful sides in the modern era.
Anderson’s argument was largely based on that recent dominance. The 23-year-old midfielder has grown up during a period when City have regularly challenged for major honours, while United have struggled to reproduce the consistency they enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
His decision to join City rather than United also gives the comment extra significance.
United had been interested in Anderson, and club legend Ryan Giggs even revealed that he tried to convince the midfielder to choose Old Trafford during a golf outing. Anderson eventually opted for City, with the Premier League champions paying £116 million to secure his services from Nottingham Forest.
The midfielder will now have an opportunity to back up his words on the pitch when City visit Old Trafford.
Sunday’s derby will be Anderson’s first since making the move across the city, and he is likely to receive a hostile reception from the home supporters. His comments have already made him a talking point among United fans, meaning his performance could attract even more attention.
For Carrick, though, the focus is firmly on what happens during the 90 minutes rather than on pre-match statements.
United enter the derby with renewed confidence after returning to the Champions League with a convincing 4-0 victory over Sabah on Thursday. That result provided an important boost following a difficult opening to their Premier League campaign.
Carrick’s side have won only one of their opening three league matches, alongside a defeat to Hull City and a draw against Everton. The results have prevented the optimism surrounding Carrick’s successful spell last season from becoming complete confidence.
The former United midfielder guided the club to a third-place finish last season after initially taking charge on an interim basis. His impressive run earned him the permanent job in May, but the new campaign has already presented a different challenge.
City, meanwhile, arrive at Old Trafford with a perfect Premier League record under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Italian has backed Anderson’s assessment of City’s recent dominance, arguing that the midfielder’s view is understandable because City were the dominant team during his formative years.
Maresca also knows that derby matches carry a different emotional weight. He described the Manchester derby as a special occasion for supporters, players and coaching staff.
The fixture therefore presents Carrick with an opportunity to show that United’s resurgence is more than a temporary improvement.
Earlier this year, United defeated City 2-0 in a derby that became an important moment in Carrick’s rebuilding project. But Carrick has warned against assuming that past success will automatically translate into another victory.
Sunday’s meeting will be another test of United’s progress, while Anderson will have his own personal challenge. After calling City the “kings of Manchester”, he now has the chance to demonstrate that belief on the pitch.
For United supporters, there could hardly be a better setting for a response.
Old Trafford will provide the stage, City will provide the opposition, and Anderson’s words have already ensured that the Manchester derby carries an extra dose of spice before a ball is kicked.
