Edwin van der Sar says Kobbie Mainoo’s absence was felt for Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo had started the first 10 Premier League matches of Michael Carrick’s interim head coach reign after Ruben Amorim was sacked by the Red Devils.
However, the 20-year-old Manchester United star was unable to feature in the Red Devils’ first Premier League fixture in the post-March international break.
Mainoo was sidelined with a minor injury he sustained in training and Carrick turned to Manuel Ugarte as a midfield partner for Casemiro in the Leeds United match.
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Michael Carrick shakes hands with Kobbie Mainoo after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in 2026 in Bournemouth, England.
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Edwin van der Sar thinks Kobbie Mainoo was a missed influence for Man Utd in the Leeds United match at Old Trafford
Manuel Ugarte underwhelmed in the Manchester United midfield on Monday evening and Casemiro made his first real impact in the second half of the Premier League tie.
Mainoo’s resurgence under United legend Michael Carrick in recent months had led to his return to the England national team under Thomas Tuchel during the March break.
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The Stockport-born talent had been fighting for Red Devils first-team minutes earlier in the 2025-26 season under ex-Sporting CP and United manager Ruben Amorim.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Edwin van der Sar highlighted Mainoo’s importance to United after the ineffective dynamic between Casemiro and Ugarte.
“What Carrick has done bringing Mainoo back in, it is important for United to have youth coming through,” he said, as per the Metro.
“He represents certain values and it has made him feel appreciated again, [which] has made a difference.
“Casemiro and Ugarte are similar types of players, so I think they missed him.”
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Michael Carrick reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Edwin van der Sar was not sold on Michael Carrick’s Benjamin Sesko decision in Man Utd’s encounter with Leeds United
Carrick made the big call to drop Bryan Mbeumo from the Man Utd starting XI against Leeds United and opted for Benjamin Sesko to lead the frontline.
The 44-year-old United interim boss has rotated between Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo for the lone forward role and Van der Sar felt Carrick made the wrong call.
“With Benjamin Sesko up front, I am not sure if that was the right option to go to,” Van der Sar added.
Mbeumo climbed off the bench in the second half of Man Utd’s defeat to Leeds and replaced Amad Diallo in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Monday.
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