Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will take charge of his first Manchester derby on Sunday, leading the Premier League leaders to Old Trafford in what represents their toughest test of the season. City have won all three league games so far, sitting five points clear of their rivals who’ve managed just one victory from their opening fixtures.
Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City, downplayed the personal significance of the occasion. “To be honest, I’m more thinking about the team, the fans, the table,” he told reporters on Friday. “For sure, I want to win the game, but it’s because we want to continue to win games.”
The match comes amid fresh scrutiny of United boss Michael Carrick, who earned the permanent role after an impressive interim spell last season. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested Carrick remains a temporary solution despite his two-year contract, writing that the former midfielder “would never have been offered a job by any other elite club.”
Can Carrick silence his doubters? He’ll need to overcome City’s formidable record at Old Trafford, where they’ve dominated for 15 years despite losing their most recent visit under Guardiola. Sunday’s clash will test whether United’s appointment proves inspired or merely expent.
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