Kobbie Mainoo put in a starring performance for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night in the win against Chelsea.
Bouncing back from defeat to Leeds, Manchester United earned a massive win over Chelsea to move 10 points clear of the Blues in the race for Champions League football.
In this victory, Kobbie Mainoo was among United’s top performers as he returned from injury to great success. Michael Carrick claimed this was Mainoo’s best performance under his coaching.
It was yet another outing that Mainoo would probably have hoped that Ruben Amorim watched, as it completely vindicated him and proved the former head coach wrong.
Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer battle during Chelsea v Manchester United
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
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Kobbie Mainoo was unbelievable off the ball against Chelsea
If Amorim had stayed at United and got his way, Mainoo would currently be tearing it up for another club. But luckily, Carrick has revitalised his career.
Amorim didn’t think Mainoo could play the physical role in midfield, but he proved this wrong against Chelsea.
Up against two of the best and most expensive midfielders in football, Mainoo stood out for all the right reasons.
90 minutes
69 touches
50/54 passes
7 defensive contributions
3/3 tackles
3 interceptions
1 blocked shot
5 recoveries
3/6 duels won
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Mainoo ran the show, physically looked the part against Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, but most impressively, his defensive output stood out as he bettered Casemiro.
Amorim is too stubborn to ever admit it, but he will be in front of his TV watching and surely thinking how on earth he failed to use Mainoo.
Dominating duels, dictating play, and covering a lot of ground, he has become everything Amorim wanted in midfield.
WHO was your MAN OF THE MATCH against Chelsea?
A massive performance and victory…
Manchester United players celebrate
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Mainoo is getting better and better for Manchester United
Mainoo has barely put a foot wrong for United since he returned from the cold, showing how terrible a head coach Amorim was over and over.
This latest performance was the best yet, and therefore the biggest statement display for Amorim to feel regret over.
The current level of performance from Mainoo, however, is likely to be blown out of the water next season.
United’s planned midfield rebuild will allow Mainoo to get even better with a player next to him who platforms the 21-year-old, instead of Casemiro, who needs to be covered for.
At his best, Mainoo is a better midfielder than Chelsea’s two £100m-plus players, and in this current form, he looks set to put himself in the conversation with these players.
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