With Mainoo restored to his natural role, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole blast the former manager’s decision to sideline Man Utd’s ‘world-class’ prodigy.
The rapid resurgence of Manchester United under Michael Carrick has cast a harsh light on the tenure of his predecessor, Ruben Amorim. After four wins in his first five games, Carrick’s most significant masterstroke has been the reintegration of Kobbie Mainoo a player who was strangely sidelined during the final months of the Amorim era.
Under the Portuguese manager, the 20-year-old England star was limited to just 228 minutes of Premier League action this season. However, since Carrick took the helm in January, Mainoo has returned to the starting XI with “flawless” performances against Manchester City and Arsenal, leaving pundits and fans questioning Amorim’s tactical rigidity.
“Mind-Blowing” Decisions
Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves didn’t hold back in his assessment of why the team has suddenly clicked. Speaking on The Breakdown, he pointed out that Carrick’s success stems from “common sense” coaching.
“How Kobbie hasn’t played football for a year is mind-blowing,” Hargreaves said. “Carrick has changed the whole team, everybody’s in their natural position and they’re performing it’s not rocket science. Put Bruno in as a 10 and let him go create.”
Hargreaves added that for a player of Mainoo’s age to dominate games against City and Arsenal after such a long layoff is a “testament to his ability,” making Amorim’s decision to bench him appear even more bizarre.
The “Ruthless” Michael Carrick
While Carrick is often seen as an elegant and quiet figure, his former West Ham teammate Joe Cole revealed that there is a “ruthless” side to the interim boss that is now driving United’s top-four charge.
“What people don’t know about Carrick is that he’s meticulous and a quiet competitor,” Cole explained. “He has a ruthlessness that you need in management. Seeing Mainoo return to this level so quickly makes Amorim appear so stubborn.”
A Midfield Transformed
The stats don’t lie. Under Carrick, United have moved away from Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, reverting to a setup that allows Mainoo to anchor the midfield while liberating Bruno Fernandes. The result? A team that finally looks comfortable at Old Trafford and, most importantly, a team that is winning.
With 12 games remaining, the “Mainoo factor” could be the difference-maker in securing Champions League football and potentially handing Carrick the permanent job this summer.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
