The reason Mainoo didn't play against Leeds.

Kobbie Mainoo was absent from the Premier League match against Leeds in round 32 due to a minor injury sustained in training, forcing manager Michael Carrick to make personnel changes in midfield.

Carrick announced the reason why Mainoo didn't play against Leeds.

In the early hours of April 14th, Manchester United went into their match against Leeds at Old Trafford without Kobbie Mainoo, despite having been a regular starter under Michael Carrick.

His absence came as a surprise to many, but the head coach quickly offered an explanation. According to Carrick, the 20-year-old midfielder experienced a problem during training just before the match.

Although not a serious injury, its timing so close to the competition date meant the coaching staff didn't want to take any risks. The decision to keep Mainoo out was aimed at avoiding long-term risks, especially as the competition schedule was entering a crucial phase.

"Kobbie's problem is minor, but serious enough to keep him out of action. We don't want to take any chances, and we hope he'll be back soon," Carrick shared.

Mainoo's absence opened up an opportunity for Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan midfielder was paired with Casemiro in central midfield, one of four changes from the previous draw against Bournemouth.

However, the 25-year-old continued to disappoint, being completely outplayed by Leeds' midfield. His ability to win tackles, distribute the ball, and control the tempo was unsatisfactory. As a result, MU suffered a 1-2 defeat against Leeds and missed the opportunity to consolidate their position in the Champions League qualification group.

The statistics only make the situation more alarming. Ugarte has only won 1 of his 10 starts this season, with 6 of those being defeats. Looking more broadly from March 2025, he has started 14 Premier League matches but has only won 1 and lost 9.

Despite Carrick's high praise, Ugarte has once again squandered his chances of staying at MU after this season ends. Compared to what Mainoo has shown, Ugarte doesn't offer the kind of support a player can shoulder the burden of MU's midfield during difficult times.

Highlights MU 1-2 Leeds United: In the early hours of April 14th, Manchester United suffered a 1-2 defeat against Leeds United in the 32nd round of the Premier League.

Source: https://znews.vn/ly-do-mainoo-khong-ra-san-truoc-leeds-post1643289.html