Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has “been found out” under Ruben Amorim, according to former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol.
The Red Devils had a terrible season in 2024/25 with Amorim guiding his side to 15th in the Premier League table and a Europa League final, which they lost to Tottenham.
Man Utd don’t have any European competition to concentrate on this term and they have already been knocked out of the League Cup at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town.
Their defeat to Grimsby was Mainoo’s only start in all competitions this season with his other five appearances coming off the bench in the Premier League.
Amorim frustrated the Man Utd hierarchy when he publicly admitted that Mainoo was fighting captain Bruno Fernandes for a place in the starting XI this season.
Knowing that ousting Fernandes from the line-up will be virtually impossible, Mainoo requested a loan move in the final days of the summer transfer window.
Jason Wilcox persuaded the England international to stay but Mainoo is likely to seek game time in January with the 2026 World Cup around the corner.
Liverpool legend Nicol reckons Mainoo has “been found out” under Amorim and the Man Utd midfielder needs to improve his defensive game.
Nicol told ESPN: “In my opinion, Mainoo is great with the ball at his feet but when the opposition has the ball, he doesn’t do enough.
“In fact, he doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t stop people getting at Man Utd back four. And the fact that that is one of the biggest problems United have and this guy still can’t figure it out.
“I think basically he’s been found out because at the end of the day, when you play for the top clubs and you want to be challenging, your players have to contribute on both sides of the ball.
“And if there is one thing Mainoo doesn’t do, it’s contribute defensively.
“The fact that Casemiro is starting over him consistently tells you that there is a problem and the kid is not as good as we thought he was when he first burst onto the scene.”
When asked if Amorim could help Mainoo improve those aspects of his game, Nicol added: “It’s interesting you say work with him, because it looks like the work rate on that side isn’t there.
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