Kobbie Mainoo completed a good performance against FCSB in the final match of the UEFA Europa League qualifying round. He had 1 goal and 1 assist in Man United's 2-0 away win. In fact, if he had made good use of his opportunities, the midfielder from Carrington could have had a hat-trick. Seeing his student play so well, coach Ruben Amorim felt very excited.
"I think Mainoo played well in that position (number 10) today. He was able to operate more freely, without having to drop too deep to defend" - Ruben Amorim shared.
This was Amorim’s most successful experiment in recent weeks. In this new position, Mainoo was able to develop his strengths, which are good ball control and smooth pressing. These are necessary skills when facing teams that like to press high and often put pressure in tight spaces.
"He used to have a hard time helping out defensively. Now, as a 'number 10', Mainoo has more freedom. When he plays near the penalty area, he does a great job of connecting the dots. We will need more time for the players to understand this way of playing better," Ruben Amorim shared.
This is an open assessment by Amorim because he knows that Mainoo played well in this match but that does not mean that he will play well in other matches. In fact, the match against FCSB was only the third time the English midfielder played the full 90 minutes under Amorim. Even after recovering from injury, Mainoo was only considered an experimental option in the 3-4-3 formation and was never considered a mainstay.
In the Premier League this season, Mainoo has an average of 4 tackles/90 minutes. This number cannot be compared to Manuel Ugarte (6) and Casemiro (5). Therefore, if Mainoo plays deep, it will be quite risky. Although Toby Collyer is not a mainstay, in terms of interception, this young star is trusted more by Amorim than Mainoo.
Therefore, if Mainoo is used, Amorim will be forced to pair him with Ugarte, Casemiro or Collyer. The remaining player in the 4-man midfield will be captain Bruno Fernandes. Applying 3-4-3 also forces Amorim to have 2 players to carry the ball forward, which is not Mainoo's strongest point, and certainly not Ugarte's.
In recent matches, Bruno often had to drop deep to do this task, so the firepower of the front line of M.U is very bad when the strikers are too dull. If Mainoo is used as a "number 10", it is very likely that in the near future, he and Bruno will overlap in position.
Mainoo’s good performance in Romania does not mean that he will be guaranteed a permanent position in the future, but at least it gives Amorim more options for the rest of the season in midfield. Every case like Mainoo now will help Amorim’s hair to be less gray when the team still has too many problems to deal with.
