Speaking in his press conference after the game, new City boss Enzo Maresca accepted Phil Foden’s red card made the game more difficult for his side.
However, he also highlighted why he knew it would also be a problem for United.
“They are a team that loves transitions and space in behind,” he said.
“With 10 players, we just dropped and waited for them, so we didn’t concede any transitions and didn’t concede any space in behind. That is why the game became more difficult for us and for them.”
United have been more effective as a counter-attacking team since Jose Mourinho arrived at the club over a decade ago. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to change it, but never quite got there.
The same, to an extent, is true of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, both of whom came to United after achieving success in a domestic league where their side dominated the opposition. As a player, Carrick liked to get on the ball and not give it away. It is fair to assume that is what he wants from his players.
Keeping the ball is one thing. Having the vision and skill to keep possession and create chances against opponents quite prepared to sit in, deny space and keep their shape is another.
United’s summer recruitment strategy was based around their midfield. Yet, with Youri Tielemans yet to find top form, Carlos Baleba still to make his debut and Andrey Santos dropped to the bench after the opening game at Hull and not used at all against City, the overall impact of their £155m summer spend has been limited.
At the same time, with Luke Shaw’s 41-game run of consecutive Premier League starts coming to an end, there was no fresh back-up at left-back, as most observers expected.
And the introduction of Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee – someone who had been available for transfer all summer – for Marcus Rashford seven minutes from time as one of only two United substitutes, gave a strong indication the overall depth in Carrick’s squad is not at the level required.