Published: 02:00, 19 January 2026 | Updated: 02:00, 19 January 2026

In the aftermath of an uplifting Manchester derby win, Michael Carrick addressed his players in the home dressing-room at Old Trafford and spoke with what was described as calm authority.

The message to them was simple, and one he would repeat in front of the cameras.

‘It’s really important we don’t get carried away,’ said Carrick. ‘It’s one game. That level of performance needs to be a version of normal.’

Carrick has been here before, of course. He was on the coaching staff in March 2019 when a miraculous Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain went a long way towards landing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the Manchester United job on a permanent basis.

He witnessed the euphoric scenes that night. The cameras panning to a jubilant Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating in the stands at the Parc des Princes, just as they did as United beat Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Carrick was there to help pick up the pieces when it proved to be another false dawn in what must feel like...