Although it took 3 years to beat Manchester City at Old Trafford and even longer to do it convincingly, Manchester United's resounding victory in last weekend's derby was actually just the easy part.
Any team, especially a team that has just been taken over by a new coach and is imbued with heroic traditions, can prepare carefully for a match against a great rival and create a moment of explosion.
The real challenge for Michael Carrick and Man United is to maintain that impressive form against Arsenal in the away match to the Emirates this weekend.
More importantly, the "Red Devils" must also maintain momentum and stability for the next key matches, starting with welcoming Fulham at home before traveling to West Ham's stadium just a few days later.
Carrick may be having a dream start as head coach, but the journey towards the key goal - winning a ticket to the Champions League - has just begun. And that will certainly be a challenging journey.
Currently, Liverpool is ranked one place above Man United with a gap of only one point. The fourth position in the Premier League table is vital, because it is a direct ticket back to the most prestigious arena in Europe.
In the context that English teams are dominating the continental arena, fifth place may also be enough to win a Champions League spot. However, Man United cannot risk putting their fate into the results of other tournaments.
After a too long period of absence from the Champions League, the "Red Devils" understand that they need to decide their own future. Man United's continuous missed opportunities to break into the top 4 in recent seasons once caused Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher to bluntly abandon the team's Champions League hopes last month.
However, that was when Ruben Amorim was still in office. And at this time, under Carrick's reign, the atmosphere at Old Trafford has changed significantly. Keane once called on his colleagues to calm down after the derby victory, but it cannot be denied that everything is gradually operating in a favorable direction for Man United. They have every basis to create momentum to break through and seriously compete for a position in the top 4.
Although not possessing media appeal like his predecessor Amorim, Carrick shows superior tactical boldness. And if Man United continues to maintain the risky playing style he is pursuing, they can completely accelerate the process of conquering goals by winning more.
Defenders of Amorim often cite statistics that Man United only lost one of the 8 matches before he was sacked. However, the problem lies in the fact that the "Red Devils" dropped too many points in draws that they should have won all 3 points.
The Portuguese strategist often chooses a safe approach, rarely making tactical adjustments in the match. Typical examples are the confrontation with Everton with only 10 people left, or disappointing draws against Wolves and West Ham right at Old Trafford.
What made Man United fans extremely excited in last weekend's derby was not only the victory, but also the way the team entered the match with the desire to destroy Man City.
A decisive attacking spirit is the key to helping Man United neatly deal with weaker opponents. Even if this playing style can make them lose a few more matches, overall, Man United will still accumulate more points.
While Amorim believes that he is building a long-term project and will receive patience, Carrick understands the harsh reality at Old Trafford. His time is running out, especially as the board of directors has begun to look for an official head coach.
The only chance for Carrick to keep the hot seat is to bring Man United back to the Champions League. And even that may not guarantee him a long-term contract.
Therefore, Carrick entered the remainder of the season with the mindset of having nothing left to lose. And in top football, a team playing with that spirit is often the most dangerous team.
