Kobbie Mainoo wanted to leave Man Utd on loan in the summer transfer window in search of regular playing time.
Manchester United’s stunning win in the 2024 FA Cup final was made sweeter by the goalscorers at Wembley.
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were developed in the club’s academy, and the pair contributed heavily to a truly great United performance.
It meant more to see academy graduates topple rivals Manchester City.
Mainoo’s matchwinner was particularly special given his Stockport roots. Erik ten Hag had entrusted Mainoo with first-team opportunities and the midfielder grabbed his chance with both hands.
Ten Hag described Mainoo as the “perfect midfielder”. Gareth Southgate said England “haven’t really had a player like him until now”. Mainoo started for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Just 14 months later, Mainoo is out of favour at United and was left out of England’s squad for the September international break. There are concerns about where Mainoo fits into Ruben Amorim’s system and Thomas Tuchel has explained he needs minutes to feature in his England plans.
Mainoo requested to leave United on loan in the final week of the summer transfer window and fans questioned why such a talented young player felt he needed a change of scenery.
Amorim has challenged Mainoo to fight for his place in his starting team, but eyebrows were raised when United’s head coach said Mainoo is competing with Bruno Fernandes to start.
The next few months will be pivotal for Mainoo. The 20-year-old is suddenly at a crossroads in his career and wants to feature at the 2026 World Cup.
Mainoo was a talking point at Amorim’s press conference ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday.
“No, like a lot of guys, he wants to play more,” said Amorim when asked whether he’d seen a difference in Mainoo. “I didn’t have a conversation with him before the window closed – I did this week.
“Because I don’t want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having any conversation with him just to hold on to him. I don’t want that feeling. I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done (the finished article). I think he can do so much better, he can improve in a lot.
“I think for some guys it is enough (their talent), but for him it is not enough. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie Mainoo, and that’s it. He will have opportunities like the other guys.
“If I feel during the week that someone is the best player to play, then he is going to play. And that I proved already to every player here. So I believe in him a lot… I have the same thing that you have: that he is a top, top player, but he can be so much better. So I’m focused on that.”
Mainoo has not started in the Premier League so far this season. Amorim said: “You have to imagine… Sometimes it’s the opinion of a coach. I remember Vitinha was not playing for Wolverhampton.
“Then nowadays, you can see that Vitinha – maybe – is the best midfielder in the world. So you never know. Something can happen sometimes. The way I play is completely different from the last manager.
“Sometimes, I look at Kobbie Mainoo and I feel that sometimes he was like – and I watched a lot of games from the Premier League when I was in Portugal – and you can feel that the Manchester United team was really transitional.
“He was the only guy who calmed down the game. Now we have other players who can calm down the game. We play a different game, and sometimes I expect more from Kobbie Mainoo.
“And I know that he can give that. So sometimes, like you said, maybe if I start more Kobbie Mainoo, then he is going to play and he’s going to get hard to take out. Sometimes it’s not fair, but I need to go with what I’m feeling in the moment, and that is the only feeling.
“I know that he started the final of the European Championship in one team that has a lot of talented players. (Phil) Foden played in that game. (Cole) Palmer was on the bench. He (Mainoo) was playing… I know all that. But sometimes I have a different way of seeing the game.”
Amorim was asked whether he could clarify the “most important things” that he looks for in a midfielder. “Everything. Sometimes, it’s the balance in the midfield,” he responded.
“Kobbie Mainoo is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as an eight, he has to reach the box, returning (tracking back), and sometimes he has to cover a lot of space with just two.
“Bruno is doing that job. And then sometimes it’s bad luck. Bruno is maybe the more influential player in the last few years, and he’s been playing in that position. Kobbie Mainoo could play as a six (a defensive midfielder), but sometimes he passes the ball and goes away and it’s not a reference as a six, so we have to balance everything.
“I think he needs to have the technical ability that he has, but he needs more pace. He needs to understand the position better. He needs to play in different speeds. Sometimes it’s lower.
“Sometimes it’s faster, and I think he can improve on that. And then he has to beat Bruno. He has to beat Casemiro. He has to beat Manu (Ugarte). They are good players, also. So I need to choose.”
Amorim relocated Mainoo to the deeper midfield role throughout pre-season, but does he have a suitable midfield partner in the squad? “I don’t know. It depends on the game,” Amorim said.
“It depends on the opposition. It depends on set pieces sometimes. All these things matter when you choose the team. Kobbie Mainoo is a very, very good player, but so is Bruno. So okay, I could put Bruno on the side, or I can push him up, but then I have to take Cunha (out).
“I can put Cunha on the other side, but then I take Bryan (Mbeumo) out. Sesko is on the bench all the time. I’m trying to make choices, and to play for Manchester United, you have to have more than 11 players, that’s my feeling.”
Amorim insisted he was “really happy” with his midfield options. “I’m not going to say that I’m not happy,” he added.
“That’s the point, guys. You ask me if I’m confident with my goalkeepers; I don’t know what is going to happen. I’m not going to say to you, no, no, I’m not confident with my goalkeepers – I need another guy.
“I am not this guy. They are human beings. My players are the best ones until they move.”
2025-09-14 03:00:00
