Ruben Amorim has opened up on his expectations for Kobbie Mainoo going forward.
The English international has had a sensational rise at Manchester United. He has been a part of their setup since he was nine. Mainoo went up the ranks at some pace and broke into the first team under Erik ten Hag.
While he was a regular feature under the Dutch manager, a lot has changed since the arrival of Ruben Amorim. Having gone down the pecking order, Mainoo pushed for a loan move in the latter stages of the transfer window. But the Red Devils decided against it and stood in his way.
Amorim has finally opened up on what he expects from the Stockport-born midfielder.
Amorim’s message to Kobbie Mainoo
The Portuguese manager said via BBC: “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.”
Having started just 12 out of the 27 league games last season under Amorim, Kobbie wasn’t certain about having an important role in the team. After he was informed that he was effectively competing with skipper Bruno Fernandes for the number eight role, the 20-year-old started pushing for a loan move as he wanted to have the best chance of making it to the England squad for the World Cup.
Manchester United not letting him leave, and Amorim not giving him first-team opportunities, hasn’t gone down well with the fans. But it seems the Portuguese manager has a plan for the English midfielder and is demanding more from the youngster.
Mainoo urged to adapt
Amorim further added: “The way I play is completely different from the last manager.
“I watched a lot of Premier League games when I was in Portugal. You can feel the Manchester United team was really transitional.
“Sometimes I looked at Kobbie Mainoo and felt he was the only guy who calmed the game down. Now we have other players who can do that, and we play a different game.
“Kobbie is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as an eight, he has to reach the box and return. Sometimes he has to cover a lot of space with just two [players].
“He could play as a six (defensive midfielder), but sometimes he passes the ball and goes away, which is not a reference as a six.
“We have to balance everything. He has the technical ability but he needs to understand the position better. He needs to play in different speeds – sometimes lower, sometimes faster. He can improve on that.”
Mainoo is great at controlling the tempo of the game, and he is naturally more suited to the number six role. However, in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, two number eights are playing alongside each other. To fit into his system, the 20-year-old will have to contribute on both ends of the pitch. He will have to transition into a box-to-box midfielder.
The former Sporting CP manager suggested that Mainoo has great technical ability, but he will have to better understand the position he is playing in. Once he gets accustomed to the demands of the Portuguese tactician, the Manchester United academy graduate might end up being a regular feature in the team. Meanwhile, with Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha out injured, Mainoo could actually start in the number eight role against rivals Manchester City, with skipper Fernandes taking up a more advanced role.
