Kobbie Mainoo is Man United’s future again – and he has Michael Carrick to thank

Key Highlights

• There were reasons for him to leave on loan, with Napoli apparently interested.
• It represented a volte-face, then, and perhaps a sign that Amorim recognised his time was almost up, when he suddenly described the Mancunian as the “future” of United. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd, for Michael Carrick, the immediate future.
• Carrick’s is a short-term task, to steer the ship until the end of the season, to guide United into the Champions League.
• If there was a change of direction at the start, it was both tactical and apparent in the result.
• A 2-0 demolition of Manchester City came with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bruno Fernandes deployed in his old role as a No 10, and Mainoo, deemed his understudy for the No 8 role by Amorim, alongside Casemiro. They dovetailed well.