In Michael Carrick's first game as coach, United pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday to lift the gloom hanging over Old Trafford.
"It's a great start, there's no getting away from that," Carrick beamed.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed victory in the 198th Manchester derby -- and the job now is for former United and England star Carrick to keep the good times going.
"That's the challenge ultimately, and I think it needs to be a version of normal," said Carrick, who was appointed the coach this week.
He is contracted only to the end of the season and has 17 games to convince the club hierarchy to give him the job on a permanent basis after Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
He could not have made a better first impression as United dominated all-conquering City -- in front of the beaming Ferguson.Â
City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged: The better team won. When a team is better, you have to accept it. They had an energy we didn't have. Congratulations."
Not a bad first game in charge 👌🔴 pic.twitter.com/H1l1vvGvPc— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2026
"The supporters were incredible and I said yesterday that this could be a magical place," Carrick said. "To get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully it's just the start."
The result could have been more emphatic as United twice hit the goal frame and had three goals ruled out for offside.
United claimed city bragging rights and boosted their chances of Champions League qualification, while dealing another blow to City's title challenge as they've now gone four league games without a win.
Mbeumo fired low into the far corner at the end of a swift United break to open the scoring in the 65th minute, with Dorgu doubling the lead in the 76th, converting from close range after beating Rico Lewis to substitute Matheus Cunha's cross.
Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo had chances fly off the woodwork in each half and further celebrations were cut short in the 89th when VAR ruled Mason Mount's goal offside. It mattered little by that stage.
United are fifth now, one point behind defending champions Liverpool, who extended their winless run to four games after drawing with relegation-fighting Burnley 1-1 at Anfield.
While Florian Wirtz's impressive recent run continued with his fourth goal in six games, it wasn't enough for Liverpool as Marcus Edwards equalised in the second half.
Chelsea are sixth after beating Brentford 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, a first league win for new boss Liam Rosenior.
Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, from the penalty spot, scored in each half to end Brentford's five-game unbeaten run and to enable Chelsea to leapfrog their London neighbours in the standings.Â
West Ham also boosted their chances of avoiding the drop after beating Tottenham 2-1. Callum Wilson got the decisive goal in the third minute of added time to end the Hammers' 10-game winless run and make it back-to-back victories for Nuno Espirito Santo's team after beating QPR in the FA Cup last week.
Leeds go from strength to strength, with Lukas Nmecha's goal in added time securing a 1-0 win against Fulham.Â
But a day after manager Oliver Glasner confirmed he would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, he watched his team lose at Sunderland 2-1.
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