Ruben Amorim explains why Kobbie Mainoo is being overlooked

Man United endured another frustrating game, and yet again, their most promising player was left to observe from the sidelines.

Man United has a disappointing 1-1 draw against West Ham. Although Diogo Dalot scored the opening goal, the Red Devils failed to maintain control, allowing West Ham to press hard in the final minutes, resulting in Soungoutou Magassa's equalizer. Once more, Amorim’s substitution choices were questioned as he ignored Kobbie Mainoo, a player well-suited for a possession-based approach.

After the match, Amorim defended his decision. When asked if he might reconsider his defensive substitution strategy, Amorim responded:

“No. We lost the ball in second-ball situations. Sometimes having more players upfront doesn’t help you regain possession. “Do we have any extra attackers to bring on? Who? Who would add more attacking threat?”.

When the reporter suggested Mainoo’s name, Amorim chuckled and explained: “Yes, but the issue is with second-ball situations. I was concerned about Matheus. I know Bruno (Fernandes) makes great runs into the box, Mason Mount plays his position well. They are trying to push us back. Bryan (Mbeumo) is very fast and can win balls on transitions. That’s why I made that choice.”.

Mainoo has not started a match since the penalty shootout loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup back in August, and this is already the fourth time he has been an unused substitute in the Premier League this season.

From being Man United’s brightest prospect, having played in the Euro 2024 final with England, Mainoo has now become a surplus at the club. However, Amorim is reportedly reluctant to let Mainoo leave in the upcoming January transfer window due to concerns about squad depth.

Mainoo’s continuous benching will greatly affect his development, especially since the 20-year-old midfielder is at a crucial stage for improving both his skills and football intelligence. The inability to develop Mainoo has been a frequent source of criticism towards Amorim.

So far, neither side has found a solution. The story of Mainoo is expected to remain a hot topic of debate in the near future.

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