Is Kobbie Mainoo affected by negativity at Man United?
Young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo , 19 years old, is a rare ray of light for Man United this season. However, there are warnings about the negativity at Old Trafford that the England international has been affected by recently.
Kobbie Mainoo is one of the most important players for Man United this season. Photo: AFP
Manchester United fans have a lot to worry about, but Kobbie Mainoo being criticized for his lack of energy must be one of the biggest concerns.
In a dark season at Old Trafford, Mainoo’s appearance is a rare ray of light. The midfielder, who turned 19 less than 2 weeks ago, is experiencing a breakthrough season with a series of impressive performances.
With excellent defense and impressive scoring moments, Mainoo has many times carried the entire “Red Devils” team.
Therefore, at just 18 years old, Gareth Southgate gave Mainoo the opportunity to make his England debut from the bench in the match against Brazil last month.
And the way Mainoo confidently commanded the midfield in the match against Belgium a few days later showed that this young midfielder could even win a starting spot at EURO 2024.
However, recently, the Man United player had to receive criticism from Sky Sports expert Tim Sherwood for his lackluster performance in the 1-1 draw against Burnley.
Mainoo , Sherwood claimed, had made the “Casemiro error”. This implies that the England midfielder lacks speed and positivity on the field. This is no longer a strange thing at Old Trafford, when Marcus Rashford or even captain Bruno Fernandes are sometimes criticized.
But Man United must ensure players like Mainoo do not go down the same path. Erik ten Hag is under great pressure and the possibility of being fired is even higher if young stars like Mainoo lose themselves.
Most importantly, however, if Mainoo is also affected by the negativity, what message will that send to the rest of the young stars looking to make their mark at Old Trafford?
If Mainoo becomes mired in Man United’s apparent malaise, demonstrating a lack of responsibility on the field, then Ten Hag will have little hope of turning things around. The lack of initiative and indifference in Ten Hag’s midfield is very difficult to accept.
If the problem cannot be resolved immediately, it can become a bad habit. At Man United, Mainoo now plays a very important role in setting the tempo. Admittedly, Ten Hag’s team is relying too much on a 19-year-old player.
“Red Devils” fans will surely hope that Mainoo’s ineffective performance against Burnley is just a temporary performance. After all, Mainoo is just a young player and instability is normal. Any criticism directed at the 19-year-old midfielder will be unfair.
Casemiro’s stagnation this season has more or less affected his teammates, including Mainoo.
But the reality is that Mainoo’s body language and playing attitude will be closely scrutinized in the near future. Is the English player following in the footsteps of his senior Casemiro? There have been many warnings to Man United that the Brazilian midfielder’s stagnation could negatively affect young players.
As all Man United and England fans will hope, it is just a temporary problem for Mainoo.
If this becomes a common problem among Man United’s best young talents, Ten Hag’s task of keeping his job will be almost impossible. The former Ajax coach simply cannot let his brightest gem lose its sparkle.