OLD TRAFFORD — Academy-obsessed Manchester United supporters will never admit it, but there was some logic behind Ruben Amorim’s controversial sidelining of Kobbie Mainoo.
His finesse on the ball belied his fledgling status, with his unerring ability to control games from deep, despite being a teenager when first thrust into the limelight, unfathomable at times.
Off the ball, however, there were justified Mainoo concerns. Time and again pacier midfielders would leave the youngster trailing in their wake. Defensively, he often couldn’t get close enough to his opponents to make a tackle.
Amorim noticed this very early on and felt, right up until his acrimonious departure, that Mainoo’s deficiencies were enough to keep him on the periphery.
Mainoo’s seamless assimilation to life back in the first team under Michael Carrick has, of course, made Amorim look foolish in the extreme. But even in the local hero’s impressive displays in recent months, the defensive concerns have persisted.
Against Brentford, as a leggy United all-but secured their return to Champions League football next season with a somewhat fortunate 2-1 win, Mainoo the midfield all-rounder came of age.
You can't keep Kobbie Mainoo away from the action! @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/njEiIRIBhr
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 27, 2026He almost registered the assist of the season in the opening few minutes, sashaying past four defenders before laying it off for Amad Diallo, who somehow contrived to miss, even with the goal at his mercy.
The 21-year-old’s two breathless pursuits of his marker to win possession back inside the first five minutes will have pleased Carrick most, however. Given it was so out of character.
After Mainoo’s midfield partner Casemiro had headed United in front, the Brazilian’s ninth of an incredible final season in Manchester, the hosts have rarely looked more porous defensively as Brentford, top goalscorer Igor Thiago in particular, somehow kept on missing chance after chance to level. Some of the gilt-edged variety.
Bruno Fernandes then moved to within one of the record for number of assists in a Premier League season, setting up Benjamin Sesko for a well-taken, somewhat undeserved second before half time.
United took their foot off the gas in the second half, feeling comfortable in their two-goal advantage. All except Mainoo who continued to fly into tackles, all while using his fleet of foot to keep United purring in attack.
Brentford finally made one count late one, Mathias Jensen rifling an arrowing strike past the despairing dive of the otherwise impressive Senne Lammens in the United goal.
Casemiro’s departure leaves Man Utd with a big call to make (Photo: AP)United held on to solidify third spot and that European return, aided by a homegrown talent who should be front and centre of the forthcoming summer revolution.
“I just thought on the back of the Chelsea game, he was particularly good,” Carrick said of Mainoo. “Showing a bit of everything, his build up play, starting attacks, duels, one-v-ones, recovery runs, in the last couple of games he has taken that up a level.
“We are trying to give him responsibility and still not expect too much of him but it is great to see.”
With Casemiro heading off for pastures new, who the United hierarchy bring in to partner Mainoo could be their most important signing in years. Whether that is one or even two acquisitions.
Blockbuster energy and a dynamism severely lacking around Old Trafford in recent times is the order of the day. Elliot Anderson would be the perfect foil.
Then, with Fernandes at the tip of that midfield three, Mainoo could be part of something very special indeed.
Not so long ago, Mainoo himself saw his future elsewhere. A World Cup spot was a distant dream. Now, seemingly determined to rectify the only deficiency in his game, there is no reason that he cannot become a Old Trafford great alongside the best to ever grace the hallowed turf.
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