Kobbie Mainoo has finally done what he last did for Man Utd before Ruben Amorim was appointed

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Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo showed what he is all about, once again.

It will be scary to look back at how close Manchester United might have come to losing Kobbie Mainoo.

Mainoo was an afterthought under former boss Ruben Amorim, who made very clear that he did not trust the midfielder.

Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City was the first Premier League game Kobbie Mainoo had started all season.

Mainoo made a mockery of his repeated omission with a top class performance in the Manchester Derby, showing what he is capable of. Patrice Evra was among the big names to reach out to congratulate Mainoo on his performance.

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Kobbie Mainoo’s winning return in context

It is interesting to put Kobbie Mainoo’s winning return into context amid his struggles under Ruben Amorim.

• This is the first time Kobbie Mainoo has started in a Manchester United win since the 2-1 FA Cup victory over Leicester City on February 7, 2025. He played 64 minutes.
• The last time Kobbie Mainoo played all 90 minutes in a Manchester United win was the 2-0 victory over FCSB in the Europa League, on January 30, 2025.
• Kobbie Mainoo last started in a Premier League win in a 3-1 victory against Southampton in January 16, 2025, almost exactly one year ago. He played 45 minutes.

But if you want to find the last time Kobbie Mainoo played 90 minutes in a Premier League win? You need to go back before Ruben Amorim was appointed.

• Mainoo last played 90 minutes in a Premier League win for United on September 14, 2024, the 3-0 away victory over Southampton under Erik ten Hag.

And while we are at it, the last time Mainoo played 90 minutes in a Premier League win at Old Trafford?

• Mainoo’s last 90 minutes in a win in the Premier League at Old Trafford was against Sheffield United on April 24, 2024, a 4-2 victory, also when Ten Hag was in charge.

All of these dates have a theme, they are all far too long ago.

Mainoo needs an opportunity to start racking up wins with regularity for Manchester United, something that was denied to him under Amorim.

Mainoo and Casemiro partnership hits the spot

Amorim did play Mainoo for all 90 minutes in 2024/25 in the Premier League in four separate games, and Manchester United lost all of them.

This likely had a big bearing on his lack of trust in Mainoo this season.

But all four of these matches had something in common – Mainoo was partnered in all four by Manuel Ugarte.

Michael Carrick did not make the same mistake. He partnered Mainoo with Casemiro, and everything clicked into place.

If only Ruben Amorim had tried it…