Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has distanced himself from Elliot Anderson’s description of Manchester City as the “kings of Manchester”.
Anderson recently used the phrase when speaking about City, but Carrick made it clear that he would not use similar words when discussing the current balance of power between the two Manchester clubs.
“I’m definitely not using that phrase at all, no,” Carrick said.
The United boss admitted that his side still has work to do before it can claim to have regained its position at the top of Manchester football.
“We’re humble enough and realistic enough to know where we’ve come from in recent history,” he added.
Manchester City have enjoyed a dominant period in English football over the past decade. Their success has included multiple Premier League titles and major European honours, while United have struggled to maintain the standards that made them one of England’s most successful clubs.
Carrick, however, insisted that United remain ambitious and want to close the gap on their neighbours.
“We need to, and want to be better, and we want to be challenging more. That’s where we’re at,” he said.
The former United midfielder also believes the club should still have confidence in its ability to compete at the highest level.
“It doesn’t mean that we can’t and we won’t. It means we still hope, we believe, and we expect that we can be and we should be,” Carrick explained.
His comments reflect a cautious approach as United continue their efforts to rebuild and challenge for major honours.
The Manchester derby remains one of the biggest fixtures in English football, with the rivalry becoming even more intense as City’s rise has coincided with United’s struggles.
Carrick’s message is therefore clear: United respect City’s recent achievements but are determined to improve and eventually challenge their neighbours for supremacy in Manchester.
