Bryan Robson thinks Michael Carrick’s success at Manchester United as interim head coach is clearly visible with the roles of Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw under him.
Kobbie Mainoo has become a key Manchester United first-team player in the starting XI once again after interim boss Michael Carrick arrived at Old Trafford in January.
The 20-year-old United youth academy product had fallen out of favour with former Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim earlier in the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Luke Shaw, on the other hand, had been a key pick for ex-United manager Ruben Amorim and had been playing regularly under the 41-year-old Portuguese coach.
Should Kobbie Mainoo be an automatic starter under Michael Carrick now?
Kobbie Mainoo only needed 90 minutes to prove Ruben Amorim wrong!
Bryan Robson is impressed with Michael Carrick’s Man Utd blueprint with both Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw
Speaking before Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle on Wednesday, Bryan Robson praised Michael Carrick for his strong start as interim head coach.
“Michael’s done great, because at United, when he’s been interim manager, he’s had eight wins and two draws [before Newcastle away],” he said on the Inside Carrington podcast, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“When you look at the last time he was here [in 2021], he beat Villarreal away in Europe, came back and drew with Chelsea, at Chelsea, who were flying at the time. Then he beat Arsenal at Old Trafford and we all see what he’s doing now.”
Carrick won six of his opening seven Premier League matches since he took over from Ruben Amorim ahead of Man Utd’s clash against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
The 44-year-old United legend’s return to Old Trafford came with an immediate pivot on the tactical approach that former Sporting CP boss Amorim deployed.
Robson praised Carrick for getting Mainoo back into the starting XI and reverting Luke Shaw to the left-back role from his left-sided centre-back role under Amorim.
The 69-year-old iconic former Man Utd captain added: “He’s doing it quite simply, but that’s because he’s got a great football brain.
“He went back to a back four, because the back three wasn’t suiting the boys. He put Luke [Shaw] back to left-back, which is his favourite position.
“Kobbie [Mainoo]’s come back into midfield – a young lad with great ability. He was only out of the team because he got a bit rusty with injury.”
Loss to 10-men Everton under Amorim vs Loss to 10-men Newcastle under Carrick
Which defeat is worse? Did Carrick repeat any Amorim mistake from that game?
Bryan Robson on Michael Carrick bringing balance to Man Utd’s first-team squad and the challenge for Champions League football
Carrick has engineered the Red Devils’ move to third place in the Premier League table in the space of eight league matches since his January appointment.
The Red Devils have only nine Premier League matches left under Carrick’s interim reign and Robson is confident about Man Utd’s Champions League qualification bid.
“The balance of the team is back and the results show that,” Robson continued.
“So, Michael’s done a great job, so far, and I hope he keeps doing it this season. I hope he achieves the task of getting us into the Champions League, but he’s doing great at the moment.”
Man Utd will host fourth-place Aston Villa, who are level on points with the Red Devils, at Old Trafford for their next Premier League match on 15th March.
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