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The Kobbie Mainoo query has confirmed to be a troublesome drawback to unravel for Ruben Amorim up to now.
The Englishman, who loved a breakthrough season beneath Erik ten Hag within the 23/24 marketing campaign, began solely 15 instances for the brand new head coach.
The Portuguese tactician performed him in a number of positions — in midfield as a part of a double pivot, as a No.10 within the Europa League, and whilst a false 9.
There have been experiences that Amorim was not too happy with the Carrington graduate’s performances, and he felt the 20-year-old was not a pure slot in his system.
Mainoo struggled beneath Amorim
That led to elevated rumours concerning an exit from United. However he stays on the membership and even performed within the second half in opposition to Leeds within the membership’s first pre-season pleasant.
Followers need him to remain, and now, the top coach has thrown him a problem if he needs to safe his place as a starter for his boyhood membership.
The ex-Sporting CP coach had spoken concerning the lack of tempo in midfield in opposition to Leeds, and he needs Kobbie Mainoo to enhance his tempo.
Amorim wants a brand new defensive midfielder, primarily based on his group’s struggles within the first pre-season pleasant, and he defined that the England worldwide can play in a number of positions together with as a No.10 and because the deep-lying playmaker however wants to alter his languid model.
Throws down the gauntlet
“I believe he can play in each positions [No 6 and No 10] within the midfield,” Amorim was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. “Final 12 months, he performed extra in entrance.
“His excellent place is extra close to the ball, all the time with the ball. He’s a giant expertise, and also you guys know higher than me that he’s a giant expertise. He wants to extend the rhythm, the tempo. I’m all the time on prime of that with Kobbie as a result of he’s so good typically, however he might be higher.
“So I’ve large plans however, like I stated, it’s one recreation per week and the competitors goes to be large. All people must be ready to play one recreation, or play all of the video games, that may be a key level in our season.”
Mainoo is far more efficient nearer to aim than when he performs deep. Whereas he can do a job on the base of the midfield, whether or not he has the bottom protection capacity and tempo stays to be seen.
It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the upcoming season unfolds for the academy graduate. With contract talks nonetheless to progress, Amorim’s phrases point out it’s now or by no means for the United star.
Function picture Alex Livesey by way of Getty Photographs
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