Ruben Amorim has been slammed over his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim has faced fierce criticism for sidelining Kobbie Mainoo, who has subsequently thrived under Michael Carrick‘s stewardship. The Manchester United midfielder has been instrumental in the club’s resurgence under the former Red Devils star, who has guided the team to four victories in his opening five matches at the helm.
Since Carrick took over on an interim basis last month following Amorim’s dismissal, the ex-England international has restored Mainoo to the first XI, despite the youngster having accumulated merely 228 minutes of Premier League action under the Portuguese manager this season.
Making his first league start of the campaign – and first since May 2025 – during United’s encounter with Manchester City in January, the 20-year-old delivered one of the standout performances on the pitch.
His previous absence had already sparked debate amongst sections of supporters, who were left even more bewildered when reminded of the England star’s exceptional abilities.
That confusion was echoed by former professionals and analysts, with Owen Hargreaves condemning Amorim’s approach of not only deploying players out of position but repeatedly overlooking a talent of Mainoo’s calibre.
« He’s [Carrick] changed the whole team and everybody’s in their natural position and they’re performing, it’s not rocket science, » Hargreaves said on The Breakdown.
« How Kobbie [Mainoo] hasn’t played football for a year is mind-blowing. [He’s] one of the best young talents in the world of football and for a kid not to play for a year and to come in to play against City and Arsenal and basically run the games is a testament [to him].
« Carrick right now has been flawless, he hasn’t gotten one thing wrong and I’m delighted for him because the fans have really suffered and it feels like Old Trafford is back.
« The fans are happy and most importantly, they’re winning. That’s what all this is about is winning. When you’re winning, it fixes a lot of things. »
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Mainoo has been a key player since Carrick was appointed to steady the ship (Image: Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mirroring Hargreaves’ glowing assessment of Carrick, Joe Cole suggested Mainoo’s immediate return to his best under his former West Ham colleague makes Amorim appear stubborn.
« I know him [Carrick] very well, my roommate at West Ham, we came through the youth teams together, » Cole remarked.
« What people don’t know about Carrick is that he’s very elegant but there’s a ruthlessness to him as well. He’s one of them guys that’ll sit and watch, a mad and quiet competitor.
« But there’s a ruthlessness to him that I think you need in management. When you first have impressions, ‘would he be a manager, would he go into that’, probably no but when you sit back and think about how intense he can be in his preparation and he’s meticulous, I think he’s done a great job.
« Owen’s right. Kobbie Mainoo coming in is doubly bad for Amorim because it makes him look so stubborn that this kid hasn’t played for a year. Good players can play in any system, they’ll find a way and Mainoo has been outstanding, he’s run those two games. »
Currently enjoying a nine-match unbeaten league run – with five of those victories secured under Carrick – United have the chance to extend that streak to double figures when they visit Everton on Monday.
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