Kobbie Mainoo has rejoined the Manchester United team after not being used much by the previous manager, Ruben Amorim. Under Amorim, Mainoo did not start any league matches this season. However, since Michael Carrick became interim coach, Mainoo has started and completed every minute of all five games.
The change in strategy matches his playing style, and statistics explain why he struggled under Amorim.
Kobbie Mainoo Excels Under Carrick but Struggled with Amorim
Mainoo Thrives Under Carrick
Mainoo has played more minutes under Carrick in these five games than he did in 12 matches under Amorim, with 450 minutes compared to 311.
His style aligns well with Carrick’s system. He plays in the #8 position, allowing him to move forward and contribute to attacks without much focus on defense. The return of Casemiro, who is performing excellently as a defensive protector, supports Mainoo’s attacking role.
This is evident in Mainoo’s performance, where he has doubled his assists this season under Carrick. He narrowly missed a third assist due to being ruled offside against West Ham.
Despite the formation change, which typically demands more defensive responsibility, Mainoo has not struggled defensively, thanks to Casemiro’s recent strong performances.
Statistics Reflecting Mainoo’s Improved Form
Mainoo has an average rating of 7.05 across the last five matches and is performing well in Carrick’s midfield setup. He shows great composure with the ball and effectively links defense to attack.
While Mainoo has always excelled at passing, he has particularly improved under Carrick. With Amorim, he averaged 12.54 completed passes per game; under Carrick, this has increased to 56.40. Additionally, Mainoo registered just six key passes under Amorim but has achieved seven already under Carrick. Although playing more can affect these numbers, his improvement is clear.
His pass accuracy in the last five games stands at 92%, indicating a more measured approach to passing, allowing the riskier plays to be managed by captain Bruno Fernandes.
His skills as a ball progressor make him a good fit for Carrick’s desired style of play.
The Challenges Faced Under Amorim
Under Ruben Amorim, Bruno Fernandes was often played out of position in a deeper midfield role, which resulted in Mainoo being benched. In rotation, Manuel Ugarte was favored over Mainoo, logging 694 minutes compared to Mainoo’s 311.
The defensive statistics suggest that Ugarte provided more coverage for the defense than Mainoo, which might explain his selection.
Mainoo’s successful defensive actions per 90 minutes are at 4.30. In contrast, potential target Carlos Baleba averages 10 defensive actions per 90 minutes, highlighting a gap in Mainoo’s defensive involvement. Mainoo averages just 3.20 defensive duels per 90 minutes, while Baleba has 6.90, illustrating his limited role in defensive play under Amorim’s system.
While these statistics show an area for improvement in Mainoo’s game, it doesn’t spell doom for his future. Notably, Paul Scholes, a Manchester United legend, was also regarded as weak in tackles but went on to have a successful career with 718 appearances, mostly in central midfield. If Mainoo can achieve even a fraction of Scholes’ success, he could play an important role in Manchester United’s future.