. The rigours of the modern game mean midfielders must fulfil a variety of duties regardless of whether they are physically suited to them. That feels like the case with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.
The 19-year-old’s goal and assist in Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Steaua Bucharest offered the revelation that Mainoo could be better suited to playing in an advanced role in midfield but was it staring us in the face all along?
“I enjoyed it [playing in the No 10 position],” Mainoo told TNT Sports after the game. “I’m just happy to be on the pitch for Manchester United wherever the manager needs me to play.”
Mainoo’s enjoyment playing further forward fed into the freedom that he was able to perform with on the night, something that his boss Amorim feels the midfielder has lacked recently.
“He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder,” Amorim told the press after the game.
“Now, more as a No 10, you can feel that he was so free. Playing with the ball near the box, he is really good, the small connections. We need time to work with the players and understand the best positions for them.”
Mainoo made a seamless transition into first-team football during his breakout season in 2023/24, becoming a fixture for both United and England. He went on to start four games for the national side at Euro 2024, including the final.
For both United and England, Mainoo was deployed in a double pivot. He was given licence to get forward but also had to fulfil his deeper-lying responsibilities, helping to break up play and initiate attacks.
While his attributes suit the role, playing deep in midfield isn’t something Mainoo was used to prior to breaking into the first-team fold. Mainoo was a striker during his academy days before moving further back during United’s FA Youth …
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