Kobbie Mainoo speaks out for the first time since Ruben Amorim's sacking, set to commit future to Man United

Since Ruben Amorim joined United in late 2024, Mainoo had largely been sidelined by the coach’s preferred 3-4-3 system. Amorim often opted for Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in midfield, leaving the England international mostly on the bench. The lack of opportunities reportedly frustrated Mainoo and fuelled rumours that he could leave the club during the January transfer window.

However, the situation has now changed. Amorim was sacked in early January following internal conflicts with the board, with Darren Fletcher stepping in as interim before Michael Carrick was appointed head coach. Under Carrick, Mainoo has quickly regained importance, particularly with Fernandes moved into a more advanced attacking role.

In the Manchester derby, Mainoo played the full 90 minutes and impressed against a strong City midfield that included Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. After the match, he posted on social media for the first time since October 2025, sharing a photo of himself walking shirtless down the Old Trafford tunnel alongside Michael Carrick, Mason Mount and Senne Lammens, accompanied by the caption “Believe that”.

The post was widely interpreted as a positive signal regarding his future at the club. The coming months are crucial for Mainoo, who is also aiming to revive his international prospects ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Since Thomas Tuchel took charge of England, Mainoo has yet to receive a call-up. His last appearance at international level came in 2024, when England defeated Ireland 2-0 in the Nations League under interim manager Lee Carsley.

After the derby, Carrick praised both Mainoo and Harry Maguire for their performances. “I thought Kobbie was great alongside Casemiro,” Carrick said. “Between the two of them, it gave us a really strong foundation. Licha and Harry at the back were solid, and it allowed us to build from there.

“I felt it was a game for experience and knowing what it feels like. It was a big ask of Harry and credit to him. Sometimes we take for granted what players do. He’s only trained for two or three days over the last eight or nine weeks, so it was a bit of a calculated gamble.

“It just shows what it really means to him. Between him and Licha, they were so solid at the back and gave us the platform to build.”

Manchester United will now focus solely on the Premier League after being eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Carrick’s side will have a full week to prepare before facing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 25 January.