Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are proving that former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim may have misjudged them, as both delivered standout performances in the days following his departure. Amorim was dismissed earlier this month, and his former charges have responded in emphatic fashion.
Mainoo made his first 90-minute Premier League appearance of the season in Saturday's 2-0 derby victory over Manchester City, playing a central role in what was United's biggest result of the campaign. Interim manager Michael Carrick's decision to start the 20-year-old was vindicated as United climbed to fifth in the table.
Days earlier, Garnacho produced a memorable display for Chelsea in their League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Arsenal. Coming off the bench, the winger scored twice in a 37-minute cameo to keep the tie alive for the Blues, who moved for him in a £40million deal after his fallout with Amorim.
Amorim's relationship with both players had deteriorated during his tenure. Garnacho was vocal in his criticism when dropped for key fixtures, while Mainoo was linked with a January exit before his manager was sacked. United's fans will be relieved that Mainoo's revival under Carrick may have salvaged his Old Trafford career.
Following the derby win, Mainoo took to social media with a topless picture walking down the tunnel alongside Mason Mount and Carrick, captioned simply: "Believe that." It was a message that even Amorim may finally have received.
