Manchester United secured a very important victory on Saturday evening against Chelsea as they won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
There were major doubts ahead of this game due to Manchester United's defensive situation. Ayden Heaven was the only available centre-back after Leny Yoro's injury in training ahead of the clash.
Noussair Mazraoui started alongside Heaven, with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw on the flanks, and they defended brilliantly against Chelsea.
Matheus Cunha grabbed the goal at the other end of the pitch. The Blues put a lot of pressure on the United backline but they responded to every challenge.
Michael Carrick's side are now 10 points ahead of sixth-place Chelsea and almost have Champions League qualification secured.
Carrick delivers high praise for Mainoo after Chelsea win
It was Bruno Fernandes who received the Man of the Match award, partly due to his phenomenal assist for Cunha - his 18th of the season as he chases Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's record.
However, Kobbie Mainoo was arguably even better than the Portuguese star on the night. The England midfielder shone in the middle after returning from a short injury.
Mainoo was not only calm and composed on the ball but also extremely sharp out of possession. He was up against Cole Palmer and Carrick thinks it was a 'good battle' between the two of them.
“Yeah, I thought that was the best Kobbie’s played, certainly since I’ve been back here," the United boss told reporters after the game.
"To step up and put so many phases or sides to his game tonight. I thought he looked so composed and so calm, he had a real presence about him, defended well.
"It’s not easy when you’ve got good players around you and it was a good battle between him and Cole Palmer. So he had to be right at it tonight but as you saw he had so much quality and composure in a tough environment really, to show us what he can do.”
United must get the right Mainoo partner
Mainoo has started 11 games in the Premier League this season - all coming under Carrick - and just one of those were a defeat.
That was against Newcastle, and the game-winning goal only came after Mainoo was substituted for Manuel Ugarte in the second half.
United are quite clearly a better team with the 21-year-old on the pitch and it is extremely important that the club sign a Casemiro replacement who will suit him in a midfield partnership.
After looking like he could leave the club under Ruben Amorim, the academy graduate is now showing why he will be a crucial part of the team going forward.