'I believe in him but he can do better' - Amorim on Mainoo's future

Kobbie Mainoo has won 10 England caps

Kobbie Mainoo was blocked from making the Manchester United exit he craved on transfer deadline day. Now Ruben Amorim has explained exactly what he wants from the England midfielder.

Mainoo is a central figure in any debate about United's future direction.

Stockport-born, a United fan as a child and part of the club's academy since he was nine, Mainoo scored in the 2024 FA Cup final defeat of Manchester City before starting for England in their 2024 Euros final loss to Spain.

In theory, he is the epitome of United's self-proclaimed history of building on youth.

The fact Mainoo was the only homegrown player in Amorim's squad for the club's most recent Premier League game against Burnley on 30 August is of particular importance when it comes to the proud record of having someone developed by United in every first-team matchday squad since 1937.

Yet Mainoo is unsure about Amorim's willingness to use him.

The former Sporting boss started Mainoo in 12 Premier League games out of 27 last season. The 20-year-old was injured for another seven.

From the crucial quarter-final stages onwards, Mainoo was a substitute for the Europa League run-in. He was introduced into the final defeat by Tottenham after 89 minutes.

This season he was an unused substitute for the Premier League games against Arsenal and Fulham. He came on for the injured Mason Mount at half-time in the Burnley victory.

In addition to the statistics, Amorim has told Mainoo he is effectively competing with skipper Bruno Fernandes for the 'number eight' role in his team.

It was against this backdrop that Mainoo asked to leave United on loan this summer in a bid to maximise his chances of making Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad.

A move to Napoli could have been executed if the green light had been given even in the last couple of hours on deadline day. United's hierarchy said no.

Amorim kept his counsel during those uncertain last couple of days.

This week, before United play Manchester City on Sunday, he explained to Mainoo what his demands are.

"I didn't have a conversation with him before the window closed because I didn't want Kobbie Mainoo thinking that I was having a conversation with him just to hold on to him," explained Amorim. "I did it this week.

"I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better.

"For some guys [talent] is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it's not fair, but I think I'm helping Kobbie and that's it."

'He needs to understand the position better'

There is evidence to back up Amorim's argument.

In that 2023-24 breakthrough season Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were United's standout stars. Yet the FA Cup final win was the only thing that kept Erik ten Hag in a job and history now shows it would have been better for all sides if the Dutchman had left after that Wembley triumph.

An eighth-place finish in the Premier League was repeatedly described as being not good enough by United's powerbrokers.

Mainoo and Garnacho had excelled in a badly underperforming team. It is possible the plaudits they received were excessive.

With England, Mainoo was part of a midfield in which Declan Rice provided the on-pitch assurance and experience Casemiro could not at Old Trafford. When Mainoo should have been learning from the Brazilian, he was effectively competing with him for a place in Ten Hag's side.

Now Amorim, with his 3-4-3 system, is trying to get Mainoo to deliver the performances he demands.

"The way I play is completely different from the last manager," said Amorim.

"I watched a lot of Premier League games when I was in Portugal. You can feel the Manchester United team was really transitional.

"Sometimes I looked at Kobbie Mainoo and felt he was the only guy who calmed the game down. Now we have other players who can do that and we play a different game.

"Kobbie is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as an eight he has to reach the box and return. Sometimes he has to cover a lot of space with just two [players].

"He could play as a six (defensive midfielder) but sometimes he passes the ball and goes away, which is not a reference as a six.

"We have to balance everything. He has the technical ability but he needs to understand the position better. He needs to play in different speeds - sometimes lower, sometimes faster. He can improve on that."

With Mount, Matheus Cunha and Diogo Dalot ruled out of the trip to Etihad Stadium, Mainoo could start against City, in the number eight slot - with Fernandes pushed higher - in one of the two positions behind a main striker, or even as the 'false' nine.

Amorim has other options, though, which could condemn Mainoo to the bench again.

Either way, Mainoo's United future until January is determined. Now all he can do is work hard and have faith when the coach says he will pick every team on merit, not reputation.