Manchester United Prepare for Derby Day Against Manchester City

Manchester United’s attackers are queuing up for a shot at derby day.

Fresh from a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Sabah in their Champions League opener, Michael Carrick now has to trim an in-form forward line down to a Premier League XI worthy of Manchester City. The mood around Old Trafford on Wednesday night was buoyant. By Sunday, it will be fevered.

The last time these sides met, it was Carrick’s first game back in the United dugout. He marked it with a statement: a 2-0 win that felt like a line in the sand. This weekend, the narrative flips. It’s Enzo Maresca’s turn to feel the weight of a first Manchester derby.

Maresca knows Old Trafford can bite. His previous visit ended in a 2-1 defeat with Chelsea back in September 2025, a tight game that underlined how unforgiving the place can be for a visiting coach. He does arrive with some momentum, though, having just come through a bruising European tie against Porto with a win.

United don’t have that luxury in the league. One victory from their first three Premier League games has left them playing catch-up. Even if they beat City, they stay below their neighbours. 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 was a step in the right direction. The table says there is still a long way to go.

Rashford’s Barcelona chapter closed

Into that tension walks Marcus Rashford, a player whose future has been a running subplot to United’s season. His loan at Barcelona last term looked, on the surface, like a success: double figures for both goals and assists, impact in big moments, and a profile that seemed to fit the club’s attacking ideals.

Yet when the summer came, Barça walked away.

Instead of triggering a permanent deal for Rashford, they turned to his England team-mate Anthony Gordon. It was a decision that raised eyebrows, and sporting director Deco has now laid out the thinking behind it.

“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. That line said plenty. Barcelona wanted intensity as much as 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 market reality bit hard. Gordon, in their eyes, ticked more boxes for the price.

“He (Gordon) was the profile that best fit. The great advantage is that the players are excited to come to our project.”

For Rashford, that means a reset back at Old Trafford. There has been genuine excitement around his return and what a fully engaged Rashford can offer Carrick, but there is no guarantee he starts on Sunday. Form, fitness, and tactical balance all come into play when City are in town.

JJ Gabriel waits at the door

If Rashford represents the established star with a point to prove, JJ Gabriel is the kid rattling the handle from the other side of the door.

The teenager caught the eye in pre-season with brief first-team involvement, then hammered home his potential with a hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League. The numbers are starting to shout. United, though, are determined not to rush him.

Academy coach Adam Lawrence outlined the club’s approach to Gabriel’s development, stressing the support network around him.

“JJ is surrounded by people that really believe in him,” Lawrence said. “From the top of the club right the way through. Where he's been at the club for so long, he's got good relationships with the players, with the staff.”

That continuity matters. United see a long-term project, not a quick fix.

“Over the course of time that helps as well. 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 explained.

“We're obviously not perfect but it's definitely something we put a lot of thought into. So yeah, it's good to see him just enjoying his football and in a good place for sure.”

For now, Gabriel waits. Rashford wonders if he starts. Carrick weighs up combinations and game plans while Maresca prepares for his first taste of this rivalry.

Old Trafford will make its judgment on Sunday.