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Feature
- 1 hours ago
Carrick needed just one game at Man Utd to make Amorim look like a fool
Tom Weber
- Updated: 17 Jan 2026 19:01 GMT
- 5 min read
News
Kobbie Mainoo was one of the standout performers as Manchester United thrashed Manchester City in Michael Carrick's first game in charge.
The 20-year-old started alongside Casemiro at the heart of Carrick's midfield in a 4-2-3-1 and delivered an assured performance. Mainoo completed 91 per cent of his passes and produced one of the highlights of the game when he coolly jinked past an onrushing Antoine Semenyo to retain possession in a crucial area of the pitch.
Starting Mainoo and leaving him on the pitch for the entire game was a clear statement from Carrick. He knows that the youngster has the potential to become the heartbeat of Man Utd, a fact his predecessor Ruben Amorim was unwilling to accept.
Current ETV
Kobbie Mainoo
M, DM (C)
Man Utd
Kobbie Mainoo
M, DM (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€55.3M - €67.6M
The Portuguese insisted that Mainoo had to compete with captain Bruno Fernandes for a midfield spot, but Carrick showed that Man Utd can be successful with both in the side. Everyone - except Amorim - already knew that, of course. Had he not been so blinded by his dogma, he could have perhaps saved his job.
A three-man midfield of Casemiro, Mainoo and Fernandes has always seemed the most logical setup for this Man Utd team. Instead, Amorim moved Fernandes deeper, thus not only impairing his best player but also stunting the development of one of the club's biggest talents.
Man Utd are not back - yet
The victory over Man City was undoubtedly a statement, but it is too early to wheel out the Rio Ferdinand GIF, saying that Man Utd are back. It is, however, encouraging that Carrick opted to keep things simple.
The Red Devils were content to let City have possession and hit them on the counter. With rapid players like Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, an approach like this will inevitably lead to chances, and it worked a treat. Man Utd defended well, restricting City to just one shot on target.
Kobbie Mainoo just sent Antoine Semenyo back to Bournemouth.
pic.twitter.com/hyhXwSK1AY— utdreport (@utdreport) January 17, 2026
Given the current state of the club, Carrick seems to be exactly what Man Utd need. They need a pragmatist, not an ideologue. The sole focus for the rest of the season is on picking up points to get into the Champions League, everything else is secondary.
It's an auspicious start to Carrick's reign, but ultimately only the upcoming games will give a real indication as to whether this result against City was just a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come.
Man Utd will not be able to sit back and absorb pressure against the so-called lesser teams. Carrick will need to find different solutions. For now, though, he can bask in the glory of having outwitted Pep Guardiola, and he may employ a similar approach against Arsenal next week.
But it will be the games against Fulham and West Ham that will ultimately define his interim spell. Those are the real must-win fixtures in Man Utd's bid to get back into Europe's premier competition.
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