Manchester Derby: Carrick Responds to Anderson's 'Kings of Manchester' Taunt
Elliot Anderson walked into Manchester this summer and lit the fuse.
His £116 million move from Nottingham Forest to the Etihad was big enough on its own. Then he called Manchester City the “Kings of Manchester” and the club’s official channels doubled down, splashing the word in capital letters. The blue half roared. The red half bristled.
On paper, Anderson has history on his side. United have not finished above City in the Premier League since the 2012-13 season, the final chapter of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Since then, City have turned domination into routine: seven league titles and a Champions League crown, a relentless accumulation of silver that dwarfs United’s modest return in the same period.
The balance of power has been clear. The argument over who rules the city, less so.
Anderson’s First Derby, and a Loaded Line
Anderson’s first Manchester derby was always going to be charged. He made sure of it himself.
“It’s been one of the biggest derbies in the world. And for as long as I’ve known, City have been the Kings of Manchester,” he said in the build-up, a line that cut straight to the heart of a rivalry defined by history on one side and recent dominance on the other.
City head coach Enzo Maresca, the man who stepped into Pep Guardiola’s shoes in the summer, did not flinch. He backed his marquee signing and pointed directly at the trophy cabinet.
“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.”
For a generation of players like Anderson, the story of Manchester starts sky blue.
Carrick Pushes Back – With a Smile
Michael Carrick heard the “Kings” line. He was not biting.
Asked about the taunt, the Manchester United manager shut it down with a wry smile. “I’m definitely not using that phrase, at all, no,” he fired back.
No war of words. No billboard slogan. Just a clear refusal to hand City that title.
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 realism sits alongside a quiet defiance. Carrick has already delivered a statement derby result once in his permanent tenure, a 2-0 win over Guardiola’s City that briefly stirred old memories. He knows one-off scalps are not enough.
From One-Off Wins to Real Contenders
Carrick’s gaze is fixed beyond the next 90 minutes.
“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.”
That return to Europe’s top table is being treated as a starting point, not a destination.
“Now, it is about the next stage,” he 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. City remain the benchmark. United are chasing.
A Five-Point Gap and a Chance to Hit Back
The numbers heading into Sunday are clear enough. United trail Maresca’s side by five points in the Premier League table. The derby offers more than local bragging rights; it is a chance to drag City closer and send a message that United belong in the title conversation, not just the top-four debate.
Despite the widening gulf in honours, recent league meetings have not been a procession. United have taken seven wins and three draws from their last 20 Premier League clashes with City. The blue machine has not completely crushed the rivalry on the pitch.
Carrick knows what he is up against. He watched City’s midweek performance in Europe and saw a familiar, ruthless rhythm.
“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.”
No illusions. No excuses.
Belief, Bruises and a Derby That Still Bites
Inside Carrick’s camp, belief has been built over time, not overnight.
“I think we have built up confidence over a period of time. I feel like we are getting better all the time and that helps us,” he said. “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.”
The labels can wait. “Kings of Manchester” makes for a sharp soundbite and an easy headline, but it will not decide who wins at the weekend.
That will come down to whether United can turn their cautious optimism into something more concrete, whether City can tighten their grip once again, and whether Anderson’s bold words echo as prophecy or motivation inside a red dressing room that has heard enough about a changing of the guard.
