Michael Carrick has explained the important approach that he has taken with Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo since his return to Old Trafford in January.
Kobbie Mainoo has been one of the Manchester United players who has really benefited from the managerial regime change at Old Trafford during the current season.
The 21-year-old United youth academy product had fallen down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim before the former Sporting CP manager was sacked.
Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd exit paved the way for Michael Carrick’s arrival at Old Trafford and Mainoo has since been able to climb back into the starting XI.
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Why Michael Carrick has put so much ‘trust’ in Man Utd talent Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford
Michael Carrick has been credited with Kobbie Mainoo’s turnaround in form at the Premier League club since the start of his interim head coach reign at Old Trafford.
Mainoo has been playing consistent United first-team football again, with the Stockport-born midfielder featuring in 12 of Carrick’s 13 matches so far this season.
United legend Carrick was asked what the first piece of advice he shared with Mainoo was after Ineos brought the former midfielder back to the Red Devils.
The interim head coach admitted that he is cautious of influencing Mainoo’s approach too much, as he wants the midfielder to express himself in his own way.
“Probably picked him in the starting team, really,” Carrick told Sky Sports.
“I’ve not had to say loads or give Kobbie an awful lot [of advice]. I’ve been really conscious of letting him play his football and find his way and find his rhythm, give him pieces of advice here and then have a little bit of a direction, but to go and trust himself.
“We trust him immensely and to go and do what he can do and express himself and he’s certainly done that.”
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Michael Carrick on crossing paths with Kobbie Mainoo early in the Man Utd and England midfielder’s development period
Carrick stepped into the world of coaching at Man Utd after the end of his career and he crossed paths with Mainoo when the midfielder was in the academy set-up.
The former Man Utd and England midfielder admitted that there had already been “high hopes” that Mainoo would develop into a major star at Old Trafford.
“Yeah, yeah, in a small way,” Carrick added.
“I’m not taking any credit for his development, by the way. But yeah, certainly when I was going through my coaching badges and I was here before then.
“There was a small crossover there. So, obviously, all the way through there’s been kind of high hopes, really, and understanding the talent that he had.
“And to be just turning 21 at the weekend and achieve in the games that he’s played in and the impact that he already had, he’s still so young and he’s still got a lot to come.”
Mainoo has played 26 matches across all competitions for Man Utd this season and the Three Lions international has registered three assists for the Red Devils.
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