Manchester United's Derby Dilemma: Trusting Forwards Against City
Manchester United’s forwards are queuing up for their shot at the derby – now Michael Carrick has to decide who he really trusts.
Four goals against Sabah in the Champions League was the perfect tune‑up on paper. A 4-0 stroll, job done, confidence topped up. But the real examination comes on Sunday, when Manchester City cross town and Old Trafford braces itself for another crackling chapter of this rivalry.
The last time these sides met, it felt like a new beginning. Carrick had just returned to the United dugout and marked his first derby back in charge with a sharp, controlled 2-0 win. It set the tone for his spell, a reminder that United could still impose themselves in the biggest fixtures.
This time the fresh face is in the opposite technical area. Enzo Maresca will taste his first Manchester derby as City manager, carrying his own Old Trafford scar. His Chelsea team lost 2-1 there in September 2025, a night that underlined how unforgiving this stadium can be for visiting coaches. He arrives now off the back of a hard-fought European victory over Porto, his City side already showing the controlled aggression he demands.
United, though, go into the game with the table glaring back at them. Just one win from their first three league matches means even a derby victory won’t be enough to leapfrog City. Carrick didn’t hide from that reality after the Sabah win.
“Results-wise, it hasn't been the start we wanted, we wanted more points in the league,” he admitted. The performance in Europe soothed some nerves. It did not erase the pressure.
Rashford’s return, Gabriel’s rise – and a derby dilemma
Around Old Trafford, the conversation this season has often circled back to two attacking storylines: the return of Marcus Rashford and the rapid progress of JJ Gabriel. Two very different stages of a career. Two very similar questions for Carrick: are they ready for this? And do they start?
The twist is that both could find themselves on the bench when City roll into town.
Rashford comes back to Manchester after a productive loan spell at Barcelona, where he hit double figures for both goals and assists last season. Those numbers usually guarantee a permanent deal in the modern market. Barcelona still walked away.
Instead of triggering an option on Rashford, the Catalan club pivoted to his England team-mate Anthony Gordon. Sporting director Deco laid out the thinking, and it wasn’t about talent alone.
“One of the things we saw that was difficult last year was the fact that, when we were without Raphinha, the team's energy seemed to drop,” Deco told Marca. The diagnosis was clear: Barça needed intensity out wide, not just end product.
“We looked at many wingers, but signing players in the Premier League is almost impossible, you see the figures involved,” he added. The financial reality of dealing with English clubs loomed over every conversation.
That pushed them towards Gordon, a player Deco described as the profile that “best fit”. As he put it, “The great advantage is that the players are excited to come to our project.” Gordon ticked the boxes: energy, work-rate, and a deal they felt they could actually do.
For Rashford, it means another reset in Manchester. The numbers from Spain show he can still decide games at the highest level. The decision from Barcelona shows elite clubs now weigh every attribute, every metric, every personality trait when they commit long-term. Carrick’s call on Sunday will say plenty about how he sees Rashford’s role in this new‑look United.
JJ Gabriel waits for his moment
If Rashford is the known quantity, JJ Gabriel is the wild card everyone wants to see. The teenager lit up pre-season with flashes of what’s to come, then underlined his promise with a hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League. He is not just knocking on the door; he’s rattling it.
Yet his competitive debut for the first team still hasn’t arrived. That delay is not down to doubt, according to academy coach Adam Lawrence, but design.
“JJ is surrounded by people that really believe in him,” Lawrence said. “From the top of the club right the way through.” It’s a strong line, and it speaks to how United view him internally – not as a novelty, but as a long-term asset.
Where some youngsters can feel like outsiders, Gabriel is deeply woven into the club’s fabric. “Where he's been at the club for so long, he's got good relationships with the players, with the staff,” Lawrence explained. That familiarity can make the leap to senior football less daunting when it finally comes.
For now, United are carefully curating his development. “At the moment just in terms of his game, his games programme, his training programme, making sure that he's getting the right exposure across different levels,” Lawrence said. The message is clear: no shortcuts, no panic promotions, no wasted minutes.
“We're obviously not perfect but it's definitely something we put a lot of thought into,” he added. “So yeah, it's good to see him just enjoying his football and in a good place for sure.”
That joy was obvious in the Youth League hat-trick. The question is when Carrick decides that “exposure across different levels” includes the white-hot chaos of a Manchester derby.
A derby that demands answers
Carrick’s attack looked ruthless against Sabah. The opposition, though, will be a very different shade of blue on Sunday. City will test not just United’s defensive structure, but their bravery with the ball and their cutting edge when chances finally appear.
Does Carrick lean on Rashford’s experience and big-game history? Does he keep faith with those who shone in Europe? Does he find a place on the bench for Gabriel, just in case the game opens up and he needs a fearless runner to change the tempo?
On the other side, Maresca walks into Old Trafford with his own ideas, his own scars from that Chelsea defeat, and a City team already drilled in his methods. United are still chasing points. City are already setting standards.
The stage is set. United’s attacking talent has made its case. Now the derby will reveal who Carrick truly believes can carry the weight of this fixture – and who will have to wait a little longer for their moment.
