Kobbie Mainoo has been an integral part of Michael Carrick’s Manchester United side since the Manchester derby.
Before he was withdrawn in additional time of Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, Kobbie Mainoo had played every minute of Michael Carrick’s second stint in charge of United’s first team, despite not starting a Premier League game this season before Carrick’s arrival.
Under Rúben Amorim in 2025/26, Mainoo had played 212 Premier League minutes. An injury at the same time as Bruno Fernandes robbed him of an opportunity to stake his claim in the team, as he then returned to action under Darren Fletcher against Burnley. Mainoo started the FA Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in Fletcher’s last game, before becoming an integral part of Carrick’s team.
His first start of the season came against Manchester City, and he ran the game. A turn past Antoine Semenyo was roared on by the Old Trafford crowd, who clearly missed their star boy.
But he’s not just had one flash in the pan; Mainoo has been excellent since his return, arguably better than he was before Amorim decided to drop him without any real explanation. He’s looked comfortable, assured, and confident. And he always did, but not like this.
Carrick unleashes Mainoo flair
Mainoo assisted Bryan Mbeumo for the opening goal against Spurs, from a brilliant set-piece routine -courtesy of Jonny Evans – his second assist for United in the last three Premier League games, more than all of his previous games in the competition (63).
“I think he’s more of an attacker,” said Carrick on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube Channel in the summer, when asked about Mainoo. “I don’t see him as a holding midfielder. I think he’s probably [better in] that line above, with that little more freedom.” And Mainoo does have that freedom.
The England international starts alongside Casemiro in defensive midfield, but regularly pushes into the final third to combine with Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha on the left side. He also roams to the right flank to affect the game across the pitch. Carrick has awarded Mainoo with that “little more freedom”, and it’s working wonders.
“Knowing Kobbie to start with and what he can bring to the team, it was my thoughts to put him into the team. I thought he would give us an awful lot,” said Carrick before the 2-0 win against Spurs. “I think from the club’s point of view, it’s an ideal scenario to bring players through the Academy and have them in the team and have them go through their career at this club, and stay in and around it.
“I was fortunate enough to be with a lot of players who managed to do that. I think it’s important. Obviously, with Munich and the foundation of the football club, everything feeds off that.
“I’m not putting everything on Kobbie’s shoulders, he’s doing terrific at the moment and I’m sure he’ll continue to be that way. We want more of that. We want more players to come through the system and get into the first team. For me, there’s no better feeling than giving young players a chance.
“He’s taken the chance over recent weeks and, as I said, I’m sure he’ll continue to do that.”
Amorim’s stubbornness cost him
Ole Gunnar Solsjkær with Donny van de Beek, Erik ten Hag with Amad, Rúben Amorim with Mainoo: every manager has a player that the fans think should be playing, but most don’t lose the majority of the fanbase because of that one decision. With Amorim, it was a little different.
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Mainoo represents everything United is about. He is the exciting young player coming through the academy. He is the quick dribbler who beats the opposition with ease. He is the passionate Mancunian who is living his dream. But Amorim couldn’t recognise what that meant to the fanbase. Amorim failed to justify his Mainoo decision.
If United were winning game after game with a solid midfield, fair enough. A case couldn’t be made for Mainoo to play, but that wasn’t the reality at all. United were awful, lacking a creative spark. Mainoo is that creative spark, as he has already proven for Michael Carrick.
Amorim could’ve won supporters back by playing Mainoo. He won so many back with the switch to the back four, but he could’ve had the majority of the fanbase back if he had just accommodated one midfielder. But it wasn’t just one midfielder; it was arguably the most talented in his squad.
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