It’s maybe a touch premature to say Manchester United are back, but their 4-0 win over Sabah on Thursday evening certainly felt like a confident step in the right direction.
Man United enjoyed themselves on their Champions League return after two seasons away. There will be tougher tests to come, but Michael Carrick has earned his flowers tonight, getting the team selection right, resting players ahead of the derby at the weekend.
It was a big evening for Benjamin Sesko, who continued to outline his goalscoring credentials with a well-taken strike before the break, and Matheus Cunha and Lisandro Martinez were also in on the action, but Bruno Fernandes pulled the strings like he so often does – securing a goal for his tally to boot.
How Bruno Fernandes performed vs Sabah
Fernandes, 31, was the difference-maker for a ragged Manchester United team last season. Without him, they may well have failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
But they have, and now the Portuguese Magnifico is surrounded by more confident players, most shining as the Red Devils brushed past the Azerbaijan champions.
Against Sabah, Fernandes scored, yes, but he also created four chances, recovered four balls and won three of four contested duels.
His more combative defensive side was not needed against ostensibly inferior opposition than often met with in the Premier League, but it was an assured display – how many times have we seen United stumble in such a game over the past ten years or so?
Since joining Man United, no midfielder has posted as many goals (23) and assists (21) in major European competitions as Fernandes. He is irreplaceable, but time is not on his side, and persistent rumours regarding his future will one day give way to a transfer.
When that happens, Carrick will need a new talisman – but he might have already found one.
Carrick has found Man Utd’s new Fernandes
Fernandes has been the definitive superstar of the modern era at Manchester United – and his journey isn’t over just yet.
But Carrick and INEOS will need to find a new focal point to guide Old Trafford forward, and in Kobbie Mainoo, they might just have the perfect man for the job.
Mainoo had been ostracised under Ruben Amorim, but he has been successfully reintegrated by Carrick – to be honest, to say that would be an understatement.
He has featured prominently in 2026, and against Sabah, he put in a complete performance, with content creator Adam Joseph hailing him as an “indisputable player” for the Red Devils. How the tables have turned – for the better.
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Kobbie Mainoo vs Sabah |
|
|---|---|
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Match Stats |
# |
|
Minutes played |
64′ |
|
Goals + Assists |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches |
93 |
|
Accurate passes |
81/83 (98%) |
|
Possession lost |
5x |
|
Dribbles completed |
1/2 |
|
Ball recoveries |
1 |
|
Def. contributions |
3 |
|
Duels won |
4/6 |
WIthdrawn for £50m summer signing Andrey Santos after the hour mark, Carrick no doubt had the looming fixture against Manchester City in mind. For that one, the Theatre will need Mainoo at his most robust, and he is certainly showing that he’s ready for the fight.
Mainoo is growing into his skin as a ball-playing midfielder, still athletic and progressive as a carrier. He completed all six of his attempted long balls against Sabah, breaking into the final third with his distribution on ten separate occasions.
Mainoo is not Fernandes, and though we are seeing marked improvements concerning his passing, he will never be a world-class playmaker of the same distinction – that is simply not his bag.
However, Mainoo is increasingly influential in this system – and if things keep going as they are, there’s no question that Mainoo could be the man to build the team around.
Funny, after all that money spent on superstars in midfield, Carrick might already have found the Red Devils’ new talisman.
