Kobbie Mainoo has been asked to play in a variety of different roles as Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim desperately tries to find a winning formula at Old Trafford
Kobbie Mainoo looks lost at Manchester United, admits Paul Scholes.
The England midfielder has been asked to play various roles this season and was even surprisingly deployed as a false nine during the recent home defeat to Crystal Palace, as struggling strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were left on the bench. It’s been a lot to ask for a young player who was outstanding after breaking into the first team last season.
His stellar form earned him a place in England’s squad for Euro 2024, where he also impressed. However, amid another chaotic season at Old Trafford, Mainoo has been shunted around the pitch as Ruben Amorim desperately strives to find a winning formula.
And Scholes is concerned about the 19-year-old. Speaking on the The Overlap Fan Debate, the former United midfield great said: “I think Mainoo is lost. I’ve talked about Declan Rice being lost before – I think Mainoo is lost as well. They don’t know what to do with him.
“I don’t think he knows where to play on a football pitch because he’s been played in one of the number 10 positions, he has been played in the two in the midfield, which I can see probably doesn’t suit him because I don’t think the greatest athlete.
“He’s a great footballer. I think the number 10 does suit, [but] the false nine, never in a million years.”
After United’s failure to strengthen their forward line in January – as interest in Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku and Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel came to nothing while outcast Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan – Mainoo may find himself being played out of position again before the end of the season.
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Scholes also addressed United’s shortcomings in general and said creating a strong spine this summer is imperative to avoid the unthinkable prospect of being drawn into a relegation battle. He said: “That spine, that core is so important.
“If they don’t get that right this summer… This might sound ridiculous but the form since this manager’s been in, they could be looking at being in that relegation fight. I’m telling you, it’s been so bad.”
United sit 13th in the Premier League table with 24 games already played, and they face fellow strugglers Tottenham next in north London on Sunday (4.30pm). A win for Spurs would see them leapfrog Amorim’s side too.
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