After Manchester United overcame Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford, Kobbie Mainoo offered his verdict on the current situation under Michael Carrick
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United running during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 17, 2026 in Manchester, England
Kobbie Mainoo looks set to be a big player for Michael Carrick(Image: 2026 Allstar)
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Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo uploaded a picture of himself with Michael Carrick after starring in the victory over Manchester City.
The United academy graduate started alongside Casemiro against Pep Guardiola's side, despite rarely featuring this season. Under the recently-sacked Ruben Amorim, Mainoo did not start a single Premier League match, with the Portuguese boss claiming the 20-year-old was directly competing with Bruno Fernandes.
He would go on to play the full 90 minutes against the Cityzens in what was a massive showing of faith by newly-appointed interim manager Carrick. After the match, Mainoo posted his first United related social media post since October.
The midfielder uploaded a picture of himself with his shirt off, walking down the Old Trafford tunnel flanked by Carrick and Mason Mount. In his caption, he wrote: "Believe that."
Carrick's trust has come at a pivotal time for the youngster. Under Amorim, Mainoo's future looked set to be away from United with the likes of Chelsea being linked with him.
Once he realised opportunities to start were going to be few under the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss, he requested to go on loan last summer, a demand which was swiftly denied by the Red Devils.
However, his mature display at Old Trafford suggests he will be back in the starting eleven for the foreseeable future. This will be crucial for Mainoo's hopes of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup.
He has not featured for his country since the 2-0 away victory over Ireland in the Nations League, when Lee Carsley was interim manager. Tuchel is yet to call-up the United academy graduate since he took over the reins at the Three Lions.
After the match, an impressed Carrick, while also praising Harry Maguire, said: "I thought Kobbie was great alongside Casa. Between the two of them, I thought it gave us a foundation, really, Licha and Harry and the kind of block, and I thought it gave us a really strong foundation.
"I felt it was a game for experience and knowing what it feels like. It was a big ask of H and credit to him. I think we take it for granted sometimes what players do, for him to play today and come through it.
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim reacts to Robbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 19, 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Mainoo was a bit-part player under Amorim(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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"It was a bit of a calculated gamble as well as how long he could play and whether he could get through it because he's literally trained for two or three days for the last eight weeks or nine weeks.
"It just shows you what it means really to him and I thought he was fantastic. I thought between him and Licha, they were so solid at the back and gave us the foundation to build up."
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