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

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As if Ruben Amorim 's January couldn't get any worse, his ex-charges are hard at work disproving some of the things he stood for as Manchester United boss. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in particular have issued reminders of just how mistaken the Portuguese tactician might have been by not prioritising the two young talents more.

Amorim, 40, sensationally fell out with Garnacho last year prior to the Argentina international completing a £40million move to Chelsea . And United almost came close to losing Mainoo in similar fashion after he was essentially discarded by his old boss.

But the United academy graduate enjoyed a comeback to remember in Saturday's 2-0 derby triumph over Manchester City . Mainoo's first 90-minute outing of the Premier League campaign helped usher in the club's biggest result of the season so far, with him at the centre of things throughout.

It was almost poetic that Michael Carrick was vindicated in such clear-cut fashion by starting the 20-year-old in his debut as interim chief. And Mainoo delivered in sweet fashion, justifying his decision as United moved back up to fifth in the table.

Only several days earlier, Garnacho savoured a mesmeric display of his own during Chelsea's League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Arsenal . The Blues couldn't win the opening salvo at home but are still in with a chance of advancing thanks to Garnacho's brace in a 37-minute cameo off the bench.

That performance was the latest to remind United fans what they're missing after parting ways with the winger. However, the blow is somewhat softened given the success Patrick Dorgu has had in a more advanced wing role of late, scoring again in Saturday's derby triumph.

Garnacho's case is also different to that of Mainoo in that the player kicked up a more visible stink in response to Amorim's tactics. The Spanish-born star was infamously vocal in his criticism of the former United chief when dropped for crucial fixtures towards the end of last season.

He almost goaded United into selling him by wearing Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa shirt on social media . Garnacho's brother also seemingly proved problematic with his online scrutiny of Amorim and predecessor Erik ten Hag .

Fans will be overjoyed the club appears to have escaped a similar scare with Mainoo. Fresh hope under Carrick may have just about salvaged his career at Old Trafford given the player was being linked with a January exit prior to Amorim's dismissal .

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There was a time in the not-too-distant past when Mainoo and Garnacho were being lauded as the future of United. But that changed all too suddenly under Amorim, who deserves a hefty chunk of the blame for one half of that duet taking their act elsewhere.

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 product 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 win, Mainoo 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 dotted with trials and tribulations, even Amorim may finally have received the message.

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