Carrick Responds to Anderson's 'Kings of Manchester' Claim

Elliot Anderson walked into Manchester this summer and lit the fuse. A £116 million move from Nottingham Forest to the Etihad, a record fee and a bold declaration to match: City, he said, are the “Kings of Manchester”.

City’s official channels loved it so much they put ‘king’ in capital letters. Across town, the reaction was very different.

Manchester United have not finished above their neighbours in the Premier League since 2012-13. In that time, City have stacked trophies at a historic rate: seven league titles, one Champions League, a domestic dominance that has reshaped the city’s football map. United, by comparison, have had only flashes of their former power.

And yet, the derby itself has not become a formality. United have still taken seven wins and three draws from the last 20 league meetings with the blue half of the city. Bruised, yes. Beaten, not quite.

Anderson stokes the fire

Anderson knew exactly what he was walking into. “It’s been one of the biggest derbies in the world,” he said ahead of his first taste of it. “And for as long as I’ve known, City have been the Kings of Manchester.”

For a 21-year-old who has grown up during City’s surge, it was hardly a shocking perspective. For United, it was a provocation.

New City head coach Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer, stepped in quickly to shield his marquee signing and frame the comment as a product of history.

“Probably the reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up in the last 15 years,” Maresca explained. “I think Manchester City were unbelievable in what they achieved. So it was normal when Elliot said that... For me the reason Elliot said that is because when he grew up Manchester City was dominant.”

No apology. No softening. Just a reminder of the scoreboard.

Carrick rejects the crown – but not reality

Put the same phrase to Michael Carrick and the mood changes. The United manager’s answer came with a wry smile and a firm line.

“I’m definitely not using that phrase, at all, no,” he shot back.

He wasn’t biting. Not publicly, at least. Yet Carrick did not pretend the last decade never happened.

“I understand it,” he admitted. “We are humble enough and realistic enough to know where we have come from in recent history.”

That balance runs through his entire approach. Carrick has already delivered one standout derby result in his permanent spell in charge – a 2-0 win over Guardiola’s City – but he knows a single famous afternoon does not change the landscape. He keeps talking about steps, not spikes.

“It is good, in a way, that expectation has shifted,” he said. “All of a sudden, there are different things asked of us to maybe what was asked of us a few months ago. We are in the Champions League - that in itself shows the steps we have made.”

Champions League football is back. For Carrick, that’s not a destination. It’s the starting point.

From chasing pack to contenders?

The message from the United dugout is clear: one box ticked, many more to go.

“Now, it is about the next stage,” Carrick continued. “We need to, and want to be better, and we want to be challenging more. That’s where we're at. 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, but I understand the bigger picture.”

The bigger picture is blunt. United go into Sunday’s derby five points behind Maresca’s side in the Premier League table. City, even in transition after Guardiola, remain the benchmark. United are chasing, again.

But this fixture offers more than just three points. It offers a chance to land a punch on the champions of the last era and show they belong in the conversation for the next one.

Respect for City, belief in United

Carrick has done his homework. He watched City’s midweek European outing and saw a machine still humming.

“I thought they were very professional against Porto the other night,” he said. “They are a very good team. We know we have to put in a good performance and do a lot of things right to get a result.”

That’s the respect. Then comes the resistance.

“I think we have built up confidence over a period of time,” he added. “I feel like we are getting better all the time and that helps us. It is a big game, it is an important game, there is a lot riding on it. We are looking forward to it. We have got a short space of time to recover and prepare for it, but we will make the most of it.”

So the stage is set. On one side, a £116m signing who has only ever known City as the dominant force, unafraid to call his new club the kings. On the other, a United manager refusing to accept that title, yet fully aware of how the last decade will be written.

The next chapter comes on Sunday. If United really intend to change the story, this is the kind of derby where talk of “kings” has to be answered on the pitch.