Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has refused to endorse the assertion made by Manchester City’s new midfielder Elliott Anderson, who labelled his team the 'Kings of Manchester'.
Anderson, who made the switch to City from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £116 million, caused a stir ahead of the upcoming Manchester derby with his bold claim. He cited City’s dominance in English football over recent years as justification for such a status.
However, Carrick adopted a calm and measured approach in response to the midfielder's assertion.
'I certainly won’t be using that phrase. No.'
The United boss emphasised that his side is well aware of their place in the hierarchy, particularly following a turbulent period. Nevertheless, Carrick is determined not to let past results limit the club's aspirations.
'We are humble and realistic enough to understand where we have come from recently.'
According to Carrick, the priority for Manchester United right now should be about progressing rather than arguing over titles.
'We need to, and want to, get better. We want to challenge for wins more often.'
Having returned Manchester United to the Champions League after three years away, Carrick's side kicked off their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sabah. However, they face a much stiffer test this Sunday—the Manchester derby against City.
City arrive at the derby with a perfect start to the Premier League and a recent win over Porto in the Champions League. Enzo Maresca’s side will also enjoy an extra day’s rest as United played on Thursday against Sabah, whereas City took to the pitch for their European fixture on Tuesday. Carrick acknowledged that the timing isn’t ideal but insists his team must adapt.
For Manchester United, the forthcoming derby will serve as another benchmark of how far the club has progressed after their challenging recent years. While Carrick isn't declaring his side as the favourites, he is not shying away from lofty ambitions.
