Michael Carrick believes Kobbie Mainoo’s performance against Chelsea was his best since he took over as head coach.
Mainoo returned from injury at Stamford Bridge and marshalled the midfield superbly well, as United won in SW6 for the first time since February 2020.
The Reds took the lead through Matheus Cunha after 43 minutes and, despite riding our luck at times after the break, kept just a second clean sheet of the season on the road.
Kobbie’s match stats were hugely impressive, especially considering that he has not been hugely involved at Carrington this week.
“Kobbie didn’t train an awful lot really,”
Carrick revealed.
“He only did a little bit on Thursday and a little bit more yesterday. I wasn’t an awful lot, so credit to him for stepping into that one.”
Our head coach highlighted what impressed him most about Mainoo, who had started every game under him until missing out on the defeat to Leeds United.
Carrick also picked out the head-to-head with an England team-mate, when reviewing his individual showing.
“I thought that was the best Kobbie’s played, certainly since I’ve been back here,”
he added.
“To step up and put so many phases or sides to his game tonight… I thought he looked so composed and so calm, he had a real presence about him, defended well.
“It’s not easy when you’ve got good players around you and it was a good battle between him and Cole Palmer.
“So he had to be right at it tonight but as you saw he had so much quality and composure in a tough environment really, to show us what he can do.”