Mainoo: I'm grateful for Ten Hag's demands
In his first major interview as a Manchester United player, Kobbie Mainoo thanks Erik ten Hag for the important role he has played in his breakthrough as a Red.
Ten Hag spotted Mainoo's potential while playing for our Under-21s during his first season in charge and quickly integrated him into first-team training, with a very specific set of demands on the youngster – all designed to accelerate his development. A senior debut duly arrived in January 2023.
Kobbie went on to shine during Tour 2023 and, after a period of injury, he established himself as a regular face in the team from November onwards, notably winning our Player of the Month award for January and scoring two memorable goals, against Newport County and Wolves.
During our interview in the Academy building, following a session with the Under-8s, Mainoo reflects on his recent ascent and how Ten Hag helped him to progress.
Kobbie Mainoo | Playing With Freedom
PLAYING WITH FREEDOM | In Kobbie's first major interview, we take a trip down memory lane with a team of awestruck U8s…
“He just wanted me to be more dominant and just demand the ball all the time,” explains Kobbie, speaking to youth-team reporter Harry Robinson.
“And when I first came up with the first team, he told me he was going to push me and he did. He just always demanded more from me and just being involved in every play and just always getting on the ball.
“He’s been so helpful. And then always guiding me, as well as the senior players, and pushed me to help me keep developing and keep getting better and better. So all credit to him.”
Ten Hag’s trust in Mainoo was highlighted by his first appearances of this season coming at hostile away grounds: Everton’s Goodison Park and Galatasaray’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Those potentially daunting trips also displayed the maturity of a young player with great composure.
“Yeah, it’s not the easiest places to go,” laughs Kobbie. “But I had to make an impact. It was my first start, at Everton, and so I just had to take it in my stride as much as possible. I guess it's not bad. An away start to kind of ready myself for what's to come I guess. But I enjoyed them both. Yeah, both atmospheres were really good, especially Galatasaray!
“He just wanted me to be more dominant and just demand the ball all the time. And when I first came up with the first team, he told me he was going to push me and he did.”
“I just try and play my game,” continues Mainoo. “The fans are going to be there no matter what. And when we're at home, I obviously try and use it as fuel.
“And when we're away, I guess I kind of use that as fuel as well, because with them being against you, it kind of makes you want to win even more. So it can be used however you want it.”
Of course, we couldn’t speak to Kobbie without discussing his recent goals and, in particular, the dramatic added-time winner at Molineux.
He describes that as his favourite so far and admits the ‘calm down, calm down’ celebration came out of nowhere.
“He’s been so helpful. And then always guiding me, as well as the senior players, and pushed me to help me keep developing and keep getting better and better. So all credit to him.”
“Obviously, the Wolves goal, that was crazy,” he says. “I’ve watched it a few hundred times so it’s sunk in now! To be honest I hadn't thought about [the celebration] or anything. It just felt right when I scored it, you know. It was a nice clutch moment.
“Of course, that moment [against Newport] is still special. But under the conditions of the Wolves game, being 3-3 and added time, that edges the other one out a bit more.”
Watch ‘Playing With Freedom’ to learn more about Kobbie Mainoo’s breakthrough.