Kobbie Mainoo has a problem at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, which is something that’s been perfectly summed up by none other than Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly.
When Kobbie Mainoo burst onto the scene at Manchester United, fans were certain that the Red Devils’ academy system had unearthed yet another absolute gem.
Mainoo looked wise beyond his years on the pitch, which led to the Englishman becoming a regular in the first-team setup at Old Trafford. That was until Ruben Amorim arrived.
With Amorim’s new system at Manchester United exiling the young midfielder, Mainoo has been linked with a move away. This is becoming a regular occurrence at football teams across the globe.
Marcel Desailly perfectly epitomises the case of Kobbie Mainoo
In modern-day football, the “system” is becoming more important than the players’ quality that play within it in some cases.
The Mainoo predicament at Man United is a prime example of this – a player with all the talent in the world, but who doesn’t operate in the area his manager would arguably desire him to.
But it isn’t just at Manchester United – as footballing icon Marcel Desailly explained. Speaking on The Overlap, the Frenchman spoke about how modern-day players need to fit the dynamic of a side, and if not, they’re moved on.
He said: “One of the reasons a player cannot be on his own and be that individual who makes a difference for the rest of the team is that he needs to fit into the discipline, the system, and the philosophy that the coach puts in place.
“So, at a young age, you lose some of the talents – unless he’s at a club like Barcelona, where they develop players like Pedri or bring in young talents.
“These clubs have a philosophy built from the youth level, and they maintain it. Otherwise, most of the time, a player needs to be effective for the collective rather than individually.”
Ruben Amorim has changed Manchester United’s philosophy
This used to be the case at Manchester United – but not anymore under Amorim. The Portuguese new regime means that system players are essential, and individuals, as we’ve already seen, depart.
The likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, and Rasmus Hojlund have all fit this bracket and have gone on to thrive elsewhere so far this season.
The likelihood is that if Mainoo were moved on, it would probably be the same. Amorim has been backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe for at least three years, which will worry the academy graduate.
If Bruno Fernandes does stay, there is little chance of Mainoo breaking into the side – and ultimately, this will mean sooner or later, Kobbie will leave for opportunities elsewhere.
A monumental error, and a mistake that would surely be regretted.
Leave a Reply