Ruben Amorim will be delighted with his Manchester United team on Saturday, having overcome adversity to defeat Burnley, bouncing back from an all-time low.
While a more comfortable victory would have been preferred, it really was a win-by-any-means game for Manchester United, as defeat could have spelled trouble for Ruben Amorim.
In the end, United won the game 3-2, courtesy of a late winner from the penalty spot by Bruno Fernandes, giving the Red Devils a first win of the season.
Once again, the performance warranted more goals, but finishing cost United, while Altay Bayindir had another moment to forget between the sticks.
The Turkish international’s blushes were spared by Bryan Mbeumo starring for United with a goal and plenty of encouraging moments going forward.
However, beyond the goals and victory, there were plenty of positives for United, with one being in midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo dribbling with the ball for Manchester United against Burnley.
Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo had massive impact for Manchester United in midfield
Amorim started the game against Burnley with a midfield pairing of Casemiro next to Bruno Fernandes, and it functioned well, with the visiting side unable to exploit the space left in behind the two seasoned veterans.
However, an injury to Mason Mount saw Amorim make a change at half-time with Kobbie Mainoo taking up a role in the centre of the park, first alongside Casemiro and then Fernandes.
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Mainoo had a really solid showing in the second half, especially next to Fernandes, as he put in a shift that will have delighted Amorim, with one moment in the 89th minute particularly impressive.
After United lost the ball in attack, Burnley were counterattacking at pace, but Mainoo covered the ground well to get back and put in a tackle which saw Old Trafford erupt.
This shows that Mainoo is perfectly capable of playing in the more defensive midfield role and has the athleticism and legs to do so, which has been a frequent criticism of the 20-year-old.
Mainoo, next to Fernandes, is United’s best midfield pairing, and it seems like Amorim is beginning to work this out, with the head coach no doubt thrilled by the work put in by his number 37 on Saturday.
No player made more ball recoveries than Kobbie Mainoo (4) in the time that the midfielder was on the pitch.
Good to get some minutes in the legs 🦵 pic.twitter.com/o2cgFSR5Im
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Impressively, in the second half, no player on the pitch made more ball recoveries than Mainoo with four, which proves he must be starting.
Mainoo should be Bruno Fernandes’ partner going forward
While not the out-and-out defensive ball winner, Mainoo does the role really well and better than Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte thanks to his on-the-ball abilities.
When Mainoo is on the pitch, United are a much better team, making it pretty clear that Amorim should be looking to use the young midfielder as one of his starters, given the current options.
United could still sign Lucien Agoume, for example, or another midfielder with the defensive abilities that better suit the role, but Mainoo is the solution right now.
Amorim has refused to loan Mainoo and therefore owes him a certain amount of game time, which looks very likely to happen going forward, with 135 minutes played in the past 180.
Now, Mainoo has to continue the form he has shown.