Life couldn’t be better right now for Michael Carrick after getting his Man Utd tenure off to a dream start with a win against Man City.
More importantly, it wasn’t a smash-and-grab victory either, as the 2-0 margin of victory flattered Pep Guardiola’s side immensely.
Regardless of where this tenure goes from here, Michael Carrick has earned immense goodwill from the fans and credit in the bank.
Michael Carrick is off to the PERFECT START at Man Utd, and he wants more!
Why do you think it went SO RIGHT for Carrick against City?
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He was already halfway there with a decision that proved Ruben Amorim’s handling of Man Utd ace played a huge role in his sacking.
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim reacts to Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United at the end of the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 19, 2024
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Marquee Kobbie Mainoo for Michael Carrick
Carrick was eager to put his own stamp on the Man Utd squad as soon as he took charge, and he did so by dropping Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha to the bench.
In came Kobbie Mainoo for his first start of the season, with Carrick not caring about the size of the occasion or rustiness in the midfielder.
Mainoo repaid that faith immediately, putting in a performance that spoke of a player reborn after Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
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Mainoo played a key role in evading City’s press in midfield, getting United up the pitch and doing all the things that Amorim said he lacked.
It was reminiscent of Ruud van Nistelrooy immediately installing Amad as a key player for his plans when Erik ten Hag was sacked.
Sometimes it’s really as simple as playing your best players in their best positions, and the rise in Mainoo’s squad status immediately after Amorim’s sacking proves a theory.
Mainoo situation weakened Ruben Amorim’s position
For a manager who went out complaining about effectively a lack of backing, it’s remarkable that the board were willing to sell Mainoo in the summer for just £40m to back him.
How would YOU rate Kobbie Mainoo’s performance vs City out of 10?
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Man Utd fans are now glad that it didn’t happen, but the events since his sacking put a new perspective on everything that happened before.
It’s notable that Mainoo’s potential sale was personally stopped by Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the summer, and now, Amorim’s complaint of not getting a new midfielder looks like Ineos urging him to use Mainoo instead.
Then comes the pressure from above to change systems, which aligns with Mainoo’s interests again, since it was the only thing stopping him from starting in the same team as Bruno Fernandes.
Amorim clearly felt personally slighted by this treatment, which was reflected in his harsh words for the academy as a whole whenever he was asked about Mainoo.
The results under Amorim were enough to warrant a sacking, but his handling of Mainoo probably weakened his position further.
The way Carrick immediately installed him as the centrepiece of the team after his sacking effectively confirms that theory.
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