Michael Carrick praises Kobbie Mainoo’s talent and character after Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, calling him a future key player

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has expressed confidence in Kobbie Mainoo, saying the young midfielder possesses the quality and character to become a key player for the club.

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Mainoo, 20, made his first Premier League start of the season under Carrick as United secured a 2-0 victory over local rivals Manchester City, a performance that lifted fifth-placed United to within one point of the top four.

Carrick highlighted Mainoo’s rapid rise, noting his starring role in United’s 2023/24 FA Cup final win against City and his impact during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final.

He acknowledged the challenges Mainoo faced under former manager Ruben Amorim, who rarely paired him with captain Bruno Fernandes.

“This club needs young players coming through and being the foundation for what it means,” Carrick said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

“Kobbie is a prime example. To come through so quickly and have the rapid rise, to play in some unbelievably big games and impact those big games at such a young age shows an awful lot of quality and character.”

The United boss added that while careers have “ups and downs,” Mainoo’s recent display against City demonstrated his potential to influence big matches consistently.

Carrick also praised the collective performance, describing the win as a “big result, big performance and a big uplift with the feeling inside the stadium.”

He stressed the importance of using the victory as a foundation to build confidence while maintaining focus for the remainder of the season.

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United now aim to secure a Champions League qualification spot for the first time in three years, with Carrick confident that young players like Mainoo can play a pivotal role in the campaign.