Red Devils fans wasted no time sharing a powerful response to Kobbie Mainoo after Manchester United’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.
Manchester United were put on the back foot in the first half after Jeremy Doku was provided the space to skip into the Red Devils’ box and attempt two crosses.
Jeremy Doku’s second cross successfully found its way into the path of midfielder Phil Foden, who turned his headed effort into the far corner of Altay Bayindir’s net.
Following Phil Foden’s opener in the 18th minute, Manchester City ensured their lead was maintained in the first half and United were 1-0 down at the half-time whistle.
Doku picked up his second assist only eight minutes after the break, with the 23-year-old winger playing Erling Haaland through after receiving the ball from Foden.
Erling Haaland charged into the United box and the 25-year-old City striker lofted the ball over an onrushing Altay Bayindir to put Pep Guardiola’s men 2-0 up.
Bernardo Silva then played through the Norway international and an unmarked Haaland burst into the United half and slotted a low strike past Bayindir again.
What Man Utd fans said about Kobbie Mainoo after the 3-0 Man City defeat at the Etihad says it all
Kobbie Mainoo was on the bench for Manchester United for the start of the 3-0 loss, with Manuel Ugarte starting alongside Bruno Fernandes in the two-man midfield.
Ruben Amorim turned to the 20-year-old midfielder in the second half after he hooked off defender Noussair Mazraoui in the 62nd minute against Manchester City.
United fans on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, were confused at Ruben Amorim snubbing Mainoo for the start of the match for Manuel Ugarte.
An X user wrote: “I’m sorry, Amorim, but starting Ugarte ahead of Mainoo is inexcusable.”
While another said: “Mainoo should never be benched for Ugarte again!”
“Mainoo came in and made things Ugarte didn’t,” someone else tweeted.
A fourth United fan posted: “Mainoo has done more than Bruno and Ugarte have done, even [though] he has only played for 25 mins. This man [Amorim] will still find an excuse not to start him.”
Somebody else added: “Mainoo has been fantastic since he came on. I don’t understand why Amorim feels like he has to prove himself [than] a player like Ugarte [who] is guaranteed a starting spot.”
“Mainoo has been our best player by far. Absolutely criminal that Amorim has Ugarte ahead of him,” a sixth claimed.
And a seventh suggested: “I [simply] cannot understand why Mainoo is being benched time and time again over Ugarte, we are always weak in midfield; it’s so blatant.”
“Mainoo is the most technical midfielder on the team and he proves it with his play. It’s on Amorim that he thinks he can’t start ahead of Casemiro and Ugarte,” another argued.
Kobbie Mainoo’s performance vs Man City once again puts the pressure on Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim to play him
Mainoo was lively in the second half during his cameo and the United midfielder once again showed why Ruben Amorim should be starting him in matches.
The England international lost his place in the starting XI in the opening weeks of the season, with Bruno Fernandes starting ahead of him in Amorim’s tactical system.
United prevented Mainoo from leaving Old Trafford in the summer, despite the Red Devils midfielder asking to head out on loan for the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Mainoo has only made one start across all competitions this season, with the England star returning to the starting XI for United’s defeat to Grimsby Town.
However, the Three Lions international’s two Premier League appearances for United this season have come from the bench, with Mainoo currently struggling for minutes.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
