MANCHESTER: Michael Carrick faces a baptism of fire as Manchester United’s interim manager when they host rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s Manchester derby.
Carrick’s short-term stint begins against the Premier League’s top two, with a daunting trip to Arsenal to follow next weekend.
City can cut Arsenal’s lead to three points with victory at Old Trafford, while United need a result to keep their Champions League hopes alive, sitting just three points off fourth place.
United’s season has faltered after an FA Cup exit to Brighton and just one win in six league matches, a run that led to Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. Carrick, however, was unbeaten during a three-game interim spell in 2021 and believes he is better prepared after gaining experience at Middlesbrough.
Elsewhere, pressure mounts on Tottenham’s Thomas Frank and West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of their London derby.
Spurs have won just four of their last 17 matches to slip to 14th, while West Ham sit 18th, seven points from safety, after managing only two wins in 16 league games since Nuno’s appointment.
League leaders Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest aiming to maintain momentum after cup victories, though they have won only once in their last five visits to the City Ground. – AFP
