Michael Carrick refused to elaborate on Manchester City's weaknesses after Manchester United won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Red Devils, playing for the first time since the 44-year-old's appointment as head coach until the end of the season, secured victory following second-half goals from Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu.
It was a magnificent day for Carrick, who was elated at full-time.
But while United were jubilant, City were subdued and flat as their hopes of winning the Premier League title were dealt a huge blow.
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Carrick was asked by Sky Sports how he masterminded the win. However, graciously, he opted against discussing City's weaknesses and preferred to keep his cards close to his chest.
"I am not going to say too much with respect to Pep, he is such a incredible coach and it is such a good team," he said.
"It is not for me to pick them apart publicly.
Michael Carrick refused to elaborate on Manchester City's weaknesses after Manchester United won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday
|GETTY
"We wanted to play to our strengths. The two wide lads, Amad and Dorgu, were fantastic both ways.
"Mbeumo and Bruno, Cunha coming on and making the difference, Mount nearly getting the goal.
"Everything was what we hoped for."
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Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWSCarrick also expressed his delight at the way United players performed, with the club securing their first victory of 2026.
"It's as close as we could have hoped for coming into the game. Change is not easy. Then to perform off the back of it," he remarked.
"I had a real sense in the last few days how desperate the players were to give that feeling of success to the fans.
"If anything I was concerned that feeling would go over the top because they are so keen to do well. But they managed the emotional side of the game unbelievably well.
"That made me proud, to watch my team have that feeling."
And the United coach also praised the club's supporters for making Old Trafford a hostile environment, one City were ultimately unable to thrive in.
Bryan Mbeumo gave Man Utd lift-off in their 2-0 derby day win over Man City | PA"I don't want to get carried away with all the DNA kind of thing," he said, referring to claims that the club need someone with 'United DNA' to bring back the glory days.
"We wanted to play well and put things into the game that we thought we help that.
"We certainly wanted to be good defensively as a team. We felt we had a threat in transition. When we did have the ball I thought we looked dangerous.
"I couldn't ask for any more. The boys took everything on tactically and dealt with it emotionally.
"I said yesterday it was a magic place and it certainly was today."
United are next in action against Arsenal on January 25 (4.30pm).