“Ruben is killing this guy career in the name of tactical experiment…His mate are now doing better than him”: Former Manchester city defender Kyle Walker says Man United has a player who’s better than Lamine Yamal but Ruben Amorim is killing him with a wrong tactical experiment
Manchester United are enduring another tough season. The Red Devils remain in three competitions but don’t look like winning any of them.
Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag at the end of last year and arrived with expectations of transforming the side.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet. Amorim has admitted that the team ‘will suffer’ before progress can be made.
And these changes, according to one pundit, are costing one of United’s brightest players.
Ruben Amorim told he’s ‘confusing’ Kobbie Mainoo
Despite being one of the Red Devils’ best players last season, Kobbie Mainoo, who made his debut 13 months ago, has struggled this term.
The young midfielder has featured in 16 games for Amorim, including in a very unfamiliar role. Amorim played Mainoo as a False 9 during United’s 2-0 defeat at home against Crystal Palace last weekend. The experiment drew heavy criticism and is unlikely to be repeated.
And talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino believes the United manager’s constant tweaking and changing of demands is affecting Mainoo more than most.
“When he [Mainoo] first came into the Man United team, I thought he really did it at a breeze,” he said.
“It was quite comfortable for him, he felt confident on the ball, he knew what he was wanting to try and achieve — gets him in the England squad, does really well in the Euros — plays well, doesn’t look out of place, really high standard, but watching Kobbie Mainoo last night, and it’s not on him, I’m putting this on the manager and the coaching team around him because I think he looks a confused footballer now.
“Because Kobbie is going backward too often. I think he feels he’s afraid to lose the ball, and that’s what can happen when you get into a really technical setup, which is what Amorim is trying to achieve. […] I’m watching Kobbie Mainoo, and I think he doesn’t really know what he’s meant to do now. I feel sorry for him because he’s 19, and he’s learning on the job.”
Mainoo’s performance against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s struggling Leicester was a lacklustre one.
He was subbed off for Joshua Zirkzee just after the hour mark, a decision which proved to be the right one after the Dutchman scored United’s equaliser just three minutes later.
Mainoo problem must be solved
Mainoo’s breakthrough saw Ten Hag play him as a defensive midfielder but one that was allowed more creative freedom to carry the ball through opposition lines.
That is an instruction Amorim hasn’t given as often, which is perhaps why we’re not seeing the same Mainoo this time out.
The teenager is certainly talented but expecting him to suddenly transform into a lone attacker was quite ridiculous, and he doesn’t look like a number 10 either.
Amorim’s biggest problem is finding a way to fit Mainoo in alongside Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte — two players who are virtually undroppable under the Portuguese manager.
Either way, failure to get the best out of Mainoo will result in continued problems.
Worryingly, should United be in a position in the summer where they have to sell a homegrown talent because Aston Villa didn’t trigger Marcus Rashford’s buy option, fans will reluctantly request Mainoo go before Alejandro Garnacho, and being the one to put them in that position won’t win Amorim any popularity points with supporters.
