Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo send clear message to Ruben Amorim after sack

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho's recent exploits serve as proof to some of the mistakes made at Manchester United in recent times, with axed manager Ruben Amorim to blame

Ruben Amorim's January has taken a turn for the worse as former Manchester United charges Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho prove their worth. The two young talents have shown the Portuguese manager may have made a mistake by not giving them more priority during his tenure.

Amorim, 40, had a notable falling out with Garnacho last year before the Argentina international completed a £40million transfer to Chelsea. Similarly, United nearly lost Mainoo after he was overlooked by his previous manager.

However, the United academy graduate made a memorable return to the starting XI in Saturday's 2-0 derby victory over Manchester City. Mainoo's first full match of the Premier League season contributed to the club's most significant result so far, with him playing a central role throughout.

In a fitting twist, Michael Carrick's decision to start the 20-year-old in his debut as interim boss was clearly vindicated. Mainoo delivered impressively, justifying Carrick's choice as United climbed back up to fifth in the table.

Just days earlier, Garnacho put on a dazzling performance during Chelsea's League Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Arsenal. Despite the Blues failing to secure a win at home, they remain in contention to progress thanks to Garnacho's double in a 37-minute substitute appearance.

That performance served as another reminder to United fans of what they lost when they let the winger go. However, the impact has been somewhat mitigated by Patrick Dorgu's recent success in a more forward wing position after scoring again in Saturday's derby victory.

Garnacho's situation differs from that of Mainoo as he was more openly critical of Amorim's tactics. The Spain-born star famously voiced his disapproval of the former United boss when he was left out of key matches towards the end of last season.

He almost taunted United into selling him by wearing Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa shirt on social media. Garnacho's brother also appeared to cause issues with his online criticism of Amorim and predecessor Erik ten Hag.

Supporters will be relieved the club seems to have avoided a similar situation with Mainoo. The renewed optimism under Carrick may have just saved his career at Old Trafford, especially considering he was rumoured to be leaving in January before Amorim was sacked.

There was a time not so long ago when Mainoo and Garnacho were hailed as the future of United. But that quickly changed under Amorim, who should shoulder a significant portion of the blame for one half of that duo seeking pastures new.

United could not afford to lose a player like Mainoo, hailed as one of the greatest talents to emerge from the club's academy in his generation. And Saturday's performance was proof he's far too valuable to sit on the bench as often as he did under Amorim.

Taking to social media after the derby victory, he uploaded a picture of himself topless as he walked down the Old Trafford tunnel, flanked by Mason Mount and an astonished Carrick with the caption reading simply: "Believe that." After a period marked by challenges and setbacks, even Amorim may finally have received the message.