PEP GUARDIOLA was left in awe of a moment of magic from Kobbie Mainoo during Manchester City’s comfortable derby win over Manchester United.
Man City in a game that offered few positive takeaways for the Red Devils.
Kobbie Mainoo had Pep Guardiola stunned with a brilliant passage of play during the Manchester Derby
Mainoo made a great tackle to dispossess Savinho
His next touch saw him skip away from Phil Foden
He played the ball through the legs of Nico Gonzalez
Pep Guardiola had his hands on his head in disbelief after the skill
Kobbie Mainoo should’ve started the game. Just look at Pep’s reaction here 😭😭😭 #MUFC
— MUFC Scoop (@MUFCScoop) September 14, 2025
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United, who have now picked up just four points from their opening four Premier League games, .
While former club legends like
However, one bright spark in the match was the second half cameo of , who left in disbelief after a delightful bit of skill.
Mainoo, 20, showed defensive tenacity and great ball-carrying after coming on for in the 62nd minute
But it was his sly nutmeg on Nico Gonzalez that had Guardiola most impressed.
Mainoo battled to win the ball off , before taking a great touch to skip away from and then poking it through the legs of Gonzalez to spark a United attack.
Unfortunately for the Carrington academy graduate, nothing came of the move after his pinged pass to was followed by an easily blocked cross from the full-back.
But the impressive sequence from Mainoo had Guardiola with his hands on his head and Man Utd fans screaming for the international to be starting regular games under .
On social media, one fan wrote: “Mainoo is a top quality player, I don’t get Amorim.”
While another added: “Most reasonable managers would build a team around this lad. But to Amorim, he is surplus to requirements.”
A third simply commented: “Kobbie should be starting.”
And a fourth posted: “I legit don’t understand why Mainoo isn’t in the starting lineup. He’s such a talent.”
Mainoo has been struggling for game time under Amorim, so much so that he even
That request was denied by Amorim and United chiefs who believe Mainoo is still a crucial part of the team and has a future at Old Trafford.
Mainoo, however, is keen to play regularly ahead of the World Cup this summer, with a place in ‘s England squad at the forefront of thinking.
The midfielder is yet to start a league game under Amorim this season and was only trusted from the off in United’s .
Amorim
He said: “I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him.
“I did it this week. I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better.
“For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie and that’s it.”
Ruben Amorim has said he expects more from Mainoo 
