For much of this week, serious questions have been raised about Michael Carrick’s future at Manchester United.
A heavy defeat by rivals Leeds has put the Red Devils on the back foot. Surely they won’t appoint a full-time midfielder?
However, football is changing fast, always fast. United are in the driving seat to regain Champions League qualification after a 1-0 win over relegated Chelsea.
Hired at the same time, it would appear that Man United have found their place of appointment. However, the Blues did not. It looks very likely that Carrick will be in the Premier League next season over Liam Rosenior.
Not only did he make United play better football but he got Kobbie Mainoo in a position where he looked invincible.
The numbers behind the display of Kobbie Mainoo vs Chelsea
Under Ruben Amorim, Mainoo’s work only went in one direction: backwards.
The Englishman has become a key to United’s wheels during the reign of Erik ten Hag, who famously scored a goal in the FA Cup final. He was starting matches at the last European Championships.
However, for whatever reason, the Amorites did not like him. With the Portuguese in charge, it is possible that the midfielder will take a break from Old Trafford. Simply put, that would be a crime.
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Under Carrick, however, the youngster is set to become one of the most important players and he showed that with a superb performance against Chelsea on Saturday.
Speaking after the game, the interim manager said “it was the best game Kobbie has played since I’ve been here” and it’s hard to argue with that.
The 21-year-old impressed, passing 91% and registering 24 tackles. He was a true force from the middle of the park, successfully winning all three of his fights and recovering five times.
It begs the question, why in the world does Amorim keep the English out?
Mainoo’s return to the side and his performances have come at a crucial time, especially with Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte set to leave in the summer.
Man United could sign the development of Kobbie Mainoo
Although United’s young midfielder could be the future of the club, interestingly, the Red Devils could sign an upgrade this summer.
That’s according to the latest in the club’s pursuit of Elliot Anderson, provided by Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.
The transfer reporter revealed: “Manchester City has already started talking to the player’s agents, but Manchester United are still negotiating with Elliot Anderson. Manchester United is not giving up.
“They know that Manchester City started their plan to sign this player a long time ago, but until the deal is done, Man Utd wants to be there. Man Utd wants to try, and they believe that getting the chance to finally give the player Champions League football, that would be important for him to try to get closer to Manchester City in this race.
“But what will make a difference is the negotiations with Nottingham Forest, who will pay what Nottingham Forest wants.”
What is that money? However, previous reports suggested it would take around £100m to prize the player away from the City Ground. Expensive yes, but worth it, especially when you compare him to Mainoo.
This summer, it may be a toss-up between him and Anderson for a place alongside Declan Rice in England’s World Cup engine room, but it is the latter that he is expected to win.
After all, there’s a reason Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel described the Forest star as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”. Why is that? Well, he seems to have it all. This season he has become a real hero in the box and box, especially scoring a great goal against Manchester City earlier this year.
However, it is his qualities beyond scoring goals that attract the most attention.
|
Anderson vs Mainoo: 25/26 Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mathematics (in 90 minutes) |
Anderson |
Mainoo |
|
Goals |
0.1 |
0 |
|
Shots |
0.7 |
0.4 |
|
It helps |
0.1 |
0.2 |
|
Opportunities are created |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
Pass accuracy |
85% |
90% |
|
Passing forward |
21.7 |
12.5 |
|
The fight is done |
2.9 |
2.2 |
|
The takeover is complete |
1.3 |
0.9 |
|
Aerial duels won |
1.9 |
1 |
|
Ground duels won |
6.2 |
4.2 |
|
Ideas |
1.1 |
0.8 |
If you compare both Anderson and Mainoo, it is a surprising win for the former. Although the jungle star has been the most talked about of them this season, it’s actually surprising to see how many metrics Mainoo has been hit with.
While his passing accuracy is a touch better, what Anderson does with the ball renders that metric meaningless.
Indeed, the former Newcastle United man makes more passes forward and completes more takes when in possession.
Not much will separate them from the attacking area, but when it comes to winning duels and finishing the game, United’s 100 million target is the road ahead. He’s a duel-winning monster, someone cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned Rice.
Arsenal paid West Ham £105m to re-sign him in 2023 and we all know how that went. This would be a very good thing if they could get a deal over the line, straight out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook for signing one of the most highly rated players in English football.
He was a monster vs Chelsea: 8/10 Man Utd star becomes the new Mainoo
Manchester United secured an important victory in their bid to secure Champions League football.
