Ruben delivers a clear message about Kobbie
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has provided a fitness update on Kobbie Mainoo after the midfielder was named in our travelling squad to face Lyon.
Mainoo has not played since our match against Leicester City on 7 February due to injury, but he looked fit and fresh when pictured training with the group at Carrington on Wednesday morning.
Kobbie has since flown to France for United’s much-anticipated Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Groupama Stadium, prompting fans to wonder if he will have a role to play.
While speaking in a press conference to preview Thursday night’s match, Amorim explained there will be an element of caution with the Academy graduate due to his recent layoff.
Kobbie has since flown to France for United’s much-anticipated Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Groupama Stadium, prompting fans to wonder if he will have a role to play.
While speaking in a press conference to preview Thursday night’s match, Amorim explained there will be an element of caution with the Academy graduate due to his recent layoff.
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Ruben and Diogo's press conference
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“In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie,” said Ruben.
“He had some weeks out, so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has, he can play in different positions - he has already played as a six, as an eight, as a 10.
“So we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, and we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.”
“He had some weeks out, so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has, he can play in different positions - he has already played as a six, as an eight, as a 10.
“So we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, and we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.”
Mainoo enjoyed an unforgettable breakout season in 2023/24 after making his senior debut, winning the Emirates FA Cup and playing in the European Championship final with England.
The youngster has experienced some injury problems this campaign but Ruben admires his talent and believes it will take time to develop his game fully.
“Yeah, I think in England sometimes they played with three defenders also,” our head coach said. “It was more or less the same position [as in our team], so he can play [there].
“Of course, we need to help him. We need to find a little bit, like Casemiro in this moment is playing better, because we are understanding better the way that Casemiro can play, and I think we can do that with Kobbie, because he has a lot of qualities.
“He's really good on the ball. But he's also really good near the opponent's box, so we'll try to manage all that, to try to find the right space for a player like Kobbie.”
The youngster has experienced some injury problems this campaign but Ruben admires his talent and believes it will take time to develop his game fully.
“Yeah, I think in England sometimes they played with three defenders also,” our head coach said. “It was more or less the same position [as in our team], so he can play [there].
“Of course, we need to help him. We need to find a little bit, like Casemiro in this moment is playing better, because we are understanding better the way that Casemiro can play, and I think we can do that with Kobbie, because he has a lot of qualities.
“He's really good on the ball. But he's also really good near the opponent's box, so we'll try to manage all that, to try to find the right space for a player like Kobbie.”
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Asked how he can help Kobbie, Ruben said: “I think that is also a little bit the problem [that he's achieved so much so young]. When I see Kobbie Mainoo, I see a lot of talent, but in the way I see - I could be wrong, that's for sure - I see some things that Kobbie Mainoo has to improve.
“The space during the game, he has the qualities, like I said, in the build-up he needs to improve, and near the box he has a lot of talent, and that's why I think he did a very good game in the Europa League in that position [against FCSB].
“When I see Kobbie Mainoo, I see him not like a full player in the moment, because he's 19. If I say to Kobbie, 'you are done, you are the final player' I think I'm not helping Kobbie, that's all.”
“The space during the game, he has the qualities, like I said, in the build-up he needs to improve, and near the box he has a lot of talent, and that's why I think he did a very good game in the Europa League in that position [against FCSB].
“When I see Kobbie Mainoo, I see him not like a full player in the moment, because he's 19. If I say to Kobbie, 'you are done, you are the final player' I think I'm not helping Kobbie, that's all.”
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