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WORLD CUP BOUND? THOMAS TUCHEL CONFIRMS KOBBIE MAINOO IS "BACK IN THE PICTURE" NOW

Gary Neville blasts Ruben Amorim for "killing" Kobbie Mainoo's confidence. Discover how Michael Carrick revitalised the United star.

World Cup Bound? Thomas Tuchel confirms Kobbie Mainoo is "back in the picture" now
Michael Carrick has proven that Kobbie Mainoo is the real engine of Manchester United.

Gary Neville didn’t hold back about Ruben Amorim’s decision to keep Kobbie Mainoo on the sidelines. He called it the worst move Amorim made as Manchester United manager. Mainoo, just 20, didn’t start a single Premier League match before United sacked Amorim on January 5. Then Michael Carrick took over. Suddenly, Mainoo became a fixture in the lineup, and United rattled off four straight wins. The kid’s form has been so good; he’s now pushing for a late spot in England’s World Cup squad this summer.

Back when Amorim was running things, Mainoo thought he’d have to leave just to get the game time he needed for England manager Thomas Tuchel to notice him. That’s exactly why Neville thinks Amorim’s refusal to give Mainoo a chance helped lead to his downfall.

“Kobbie Mainoo didn’t even get a chance under Ruben, really,” Neville said on Stick to Football. “If you look at Mainoo now, in this team, it’s just obvious that was Ruben Amorim’s worst decision.”

After Amorim lost his job, Neville went even further. He said Amorim “killed” Mainoo’s development. “Honestly, I never liked how Mainoo was handled,” Neville said. “We’ve talked about it a lot on this show. When Amorim said at the start of the season that it was either him or Bruno Fernandes, I didn’t agree. It killed Mainoo’s confidence, and then he barely played just that one cup game against Grimsby.”

Now, with Amorim gone, Mainoo has a shot to keep proving people wrong, starting with United’s trip to Everton next Monday. Another strong game, and he’d make a real case for Tuchel to call him up for England’s friendlies in March.

Tuchel himself just said Mainoo is “back in the picture” for England, along with United teammates Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. Speaking at the Nations League draw on Thursday, Tuchel called Mainoo “a huge talent". He added, “He’s already played a tournament for England from start to finish. So he’s back, and so are Luke and Harry. Suddenly, there are a few players back in the mix. United are playing with a back four and a different style now, which fits better with what we’re doing. That’s real competition.”

RED TO BLUE? WHY MANCHESTER UNITED ARE PLOTTING A SHOCK ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER RAID

Manchester United are targeting Alexis Mac Allister! Get the latest on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s shock raid on rivals Liverpool today.

top-news
United adds Alexis Mac Allister to the 2026 Summer Midfield Shortlist

Manchester United are actually considering a move for Alexis Mac Allister, a star currently playing for their old rivals, Liverpool. Right now, United’s putting together a shortlist of midfielders they want to go after in the summer, and Mac Allister’s name keeps popping up. The people in charge at Old Trafford are watching his situation closely.

There’s a lot of talk about Mac Allister possibly leaving Liverpool when the season ends. He’s still under contract at Anfield until 2028, but his season hasn’t gone smoothly. He’s struggled to hit top form, and, honestly, you can tell it’s been a tough year for him.

Getting Mac Allister out of Liverpool would be a massive challenge for United. Sure, a few players have worn both shirts – Michael Owen and Paul Ince come to mind – but it’s rare. Nobody’s moved directly between the two clubs since Phil Chisnall did it back in 1964. That kind of transfer just doesn’t happen.

No one knows yet if Mac Allister even wants to leave Liverpool. He has said he’d like to play in Spain one day, so that’s something to think about. United also realises that, unless they make the Champions League, signing a player of his calibre just isn’t realistic.

Still, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s co-owner, wants to explore every option. If Mac Allister becomes available, United would be interested, no question.

Mac Allister only joined Liverpool from Brighton last summer for £55 million, then helped them win the Premier League. Before that, he played a huge part in Argentina’s World Cup win over France in 2022. No wonder he’s seen as one of the best midfielders in the world.

United’s not just looking at him, though. They’re also keeping an eye on Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and Elliot Anderson as they try to shake up their midfield for next season.

THOMAS TUCHEL AND CARLO ANCELOTTI RULE OUT MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER JOB VACANCY

Michael Carrick remains unbeaten as Man United manager! Read about his 2-0 win over City and why Tuchel and Ancelotti are ruled out.

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Manchester United’s Interim Boss Is Rewriting The Future Today

Manchester United are still searching for a new permanent manager after Ruben Amorim’s exit, even though Michael Carrick’s start as caretaker has turned some heads. Carlo Ancelotti’s already made it clear he’s not interested, and Thomas Tuchel just committed his future to England.

Carrick stepped in after Amorim got sacked last month, and so far, he’s done well. If the good results keep coming, United might offer him the job full-time, but they’re still looking at other options.

Tuchel was in the running for a while, but on Thursday, he signed a new deal with the England national team. He’s staying put until after Euro 2028.

Then there’s Ancelotti. He’s coaching Brazil now and looks set to extend his contract there soon. United reportedly had him on their list, but last year, the Italian pretty much ruled out returning to club football unless Real Madrid came calling.

Back in September 2025, Ancelotti spoke to L’Equipe about his future. He didn’t leave much room for doubt and said there’s only one European side he’d consider managing again.

“Real Madrid is the only team I will accept managing after Brazil,” Ancelotti said. So, with that and his new Brazil deal, United can cross his name off for good.

So, who takes over after this season? No one knows yet. Carrick, since stepping back in January, hasn’t lost a single match.

He kicked things off by leading United to a 2-0 win over Manchester City can’t ask for a better start. After that, they beat Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham, and then grabbed a last-minute draw against West Ham.

This unbeaten run has fans and pundits calling for Carrick to get the job permanently. After the win over Fulham, people wanted to know what he thought about his future. Carrick kept it honest: “Nothing’s changed, to be honest.

“I know what I’m here to do and what’s expected of me. We want success, and I want the club to be successful down the line—whether that’s with me or someone else.

“I can’t control what happens next. All I can do is try to make the team better and make United stronger. A handful of good results doesn’t change that. If it does, something’s off.

“You can’t just react to a few games, good or bad. It’s about building something solid.”

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