Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo was phenomenal once more for Manchester United in a victory over Sabah to kickstart the Champions League campaign in a thumping fashion.
Manchester United may have spent £148m in the midfield department this summer, but it is Kobbie Mainoo who is the general within Michael Carrick’s midfield at all times, and he was excellent against Sabah.
Completely undroppable from the midfield now, Mainoo is the £100m midfielder that Ineos weren’t able to afford, instead giving the reins of the club to the one who cost absolutely nothing.
Mainoo’s contract extension feels like a long time ago, and he probably deserves a lifetime deal with how stellar he has been in 2026. But the most exciting thing is how Mainoo continues to develop and now has a Carrick-esque quality down to a T.
Manchester United v Sabah FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Kobbie Mainoo followed in Michael Carrick’s footsteps for Manchester United vs Sabah
Mainoo will be running out of haters with the season he is beginning to put together, with ‘world-class’ shouts not far away as he rounds out his game.
In a relatively short space of time, Mainoo has transformed his game to step up in the two areas that he previously didn’t have, one being his passing range.
This season, he has shown class in this department, and against Sabah, Mainoo’s passing reached Michael Carrick levels.
According to Opta Joe on X, Mainoo’s 81 passes completed against Sabah – in just 64 minutes – is the most that an Englishman has managed for United in the Champions League since Carrick against Olympiacos in 2014.
81/83 passes completed (98%)
6/6 long passes completed (100%)
10 passes into the final third
Carrick has helped Mainoo to unleash his quality passing range, mentoring the 21-year-old, as it is no coincidence that his improvements have coincided with having the club legend as a boss.
The peach of Mainoo’s passing was a sublime, first-time, pinpoint ball over the top to Bruno Fernandes, who was unable to make it count, but what an incredible pass.
With every passing week, Mainoo makes Amorim look more and more foolish, and it isn’t just the Portuguese coach who will be feeling this way.
Getty Images
Mainoo has sent a clear statement to Thomas Tuchel
Besides Carrick, Mainoo can’t catch a break with managers.
First, Amorim and then with England, he had Thomas Tuchel, who took the youngster to the USA for the World Cup, only to play Jordan Henderson over him.
Tuchel’s treatment of Mainoo cost England, as he complained about a lack of control and composure in midfield, while ignoring the one player who would offer him that.
But now, with a long international break incoming, Mainoo is surely well within Tuchel’s plans and should be in mind for his strongest team over the £116m Manuel Ugarte-esque player Elliot Anderson.
Mainoo oozes quality and Tuchel can turn England into a powerhouse with him next to Declan Rice.
This performance is the latest message to Tuchel by Mainoo. Hopefully, he listens this time.