Michael Carrick has hailed Kobbie Mainoo as a genuine pleasure to coach following the England midfielder's impressive display in Manchester United's commanding 4-0 victory over Sabah, which marked the club's return to Champions League action.
Making his maiden Champions League start, Mainoo delivered a composed performance that saw him complete 81 passes during his 64 minutes on the pitch, further evidence of his resurgence under Carrick's guidance. The young midfielder, who found opportunities limited under previous manager Ruben Amorim, has become instrumental in United's improved form since the former Red Devils player assumed control in January.
Speaking about Mainoo's contribution, Carrick said: "He's a fantastic player, I think it's pretty obvious to see. The way he's performing, playing that little bit deeper really and connecting the attacks, starting the attacks and having a massive influence on our games. He's a real joy to kind of have, he wants to learn, he wants to improve, he wants to listen and he expresses himself on the pitch. It's great to see."
Despite United strengthening their midfield options with the arrivals of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba during the transfer window, Mainoo's value to the team was made clear when his absence from the starting eleven contributed to a 2-0 opening-day loss at Hull.
The 19-year-old's pre-season preparation was disrupted as he was part of England's World Cup semi-final squad, though he did not feature in any matches during the tournament. Since reclaiming his place in the starting lineup alongside Tielemans and captain Bruno Fernandes, United have found the net 11 times across three matches.
Carrick added: "I think through the middle of the pitch we've played some good football at times. I thought some of our attacking play was fantastic."
