Manchester United may have lifted the mood around Old Trafford with victory over Manchester City in the derby, but interim manager Michael Carrick on Friday urged his side to balance renewed confidence with caution ahead of the trip to leaders Arsenal.
United started Carrick’s second spell as interim coach with a thrilling 2-0 home win over Pep Guardiola’s City in the Premier League on Saturday.
His attacking side swept away the gloom hanging over the club, with second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu underlining their dominance against a disappointing City, whose title hopes suffered a significant setback.
«It’s been a good week – a big result, a big performance and a big improvement in the feeling in the stadium,» Carrick told reporters ahead of Sunday’s match.
“It’s finding a balance between getting the encouragement and confidence from the game and performance and staying level-headed and keeping our feet on the ground.
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«We have another big game ahead of us. One game doesn’t make you a great team, but it does give us a great foundation to build on.»
United are fifth in the league with 35 points from 22 games, while Arsenal are in the lead with 50.
«I’m looking forward to the match, it’s a big challenge. They are a very good team. They have so many strengths in their game. They are where they are for a reason, we are fully aware of that,» the 44-year-old Englishman added.
Carrick also spoke about the future of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who announced on Thursday that he will leave the club at the end of the season after his contract expires.
Although the 33-year-old has a one-year extension option, a team source said the club has opted not to activate it.
Casemiro joined Old Trafford from Real Madrid in 2022 for around £60 million ($81.11 million) and played a key role in United’s 2023 League Cup triumph, scoring in the final and being part of the 2024 FA Cup triumph.
“Casemiro’s announcement was primarily for clarity,” Carrick said. “It was decided before I arrived – it wasn’t a hasty decision.
“But the type of personality and character he is is evident from his performance last week where he is mentally and what it means to be here and finish the season strong.
“I’ve had the conversation with him – he’s desperate to do well and finish well.”
Published on January 23, 2026
