Dietmar Hamann may have made a name for himself at Liverpool, but the former midfielder has tipped young Manchester United talent Kobbie Mainoo for greatness.
Hamann was known for his calmness under pressure and his tactical intelligence. His legendary status at Liverpool was confirmed in the 2005 Champions League Final, where he came on as a second-half substitute and played through the pain of a broken toe to overturn a three-goal deficit against AC Milan.
Speaking to Genting Casino, Hamann has heaped praise on 19-year-old Mainoo, who has impressed for both England and United in recent months. Despite his own loyalties, Hamann believes the midfielder can become one of the best in the league.
“I think Kobbie Mainoo is a very interesting player,” said Hamann, adding: “The way he played for England in the summer was impressive. For a young boy to come in like that and score important goals last season shows it kind of talent he has.” he has.” Drawing comparisons to some of the Premier League's most versatile midfielders, Mainoo offers a skillset that Hamann believes can make him a complete player.
He continued: “He can defend and attack, and that is a good thing. In midfield you need players with different qualities that complement each other. Mainoo has discipline, and if he wants to, he can be one of the best players. ” But on the other hand, he has a trick up his sleeve and he knows how to score goals. If he develops as a number eight, he will have to score six, seven or eight goals a season if he feels like it.”
Like the players he admires today, Hamann brought balance to the teams he played for. His ability to complement more attacking teammates made him indispensable – a trait he now sees in Mainoo's potential to partner Declan Rice. He added: “If you play him alongside Declan Rice, like he does for England, he can play higher up. In the coming years, Mainoo will be the one I'm most interested in.”
New England manager Thomas Tuchel will no doubt look to leverage that partnership as he experiments with his best starting XI for the Three Lions. Although Hamann is optimistic about Mainoo's future, he was less complimentary towards Manchester United's hierarchy. The appointment of Ruben Amorim as the club's new manager in November has brought new hope to Old Trafford.
But Hamann wondered why United delayed replacing Erik ten Hag. “It would have been easier and cheaper to go for Amorim in the summer, but they stayed with Ten Hag. “That raises serious questions about the judgment of United's leadership team,” he said.
“Decisions have been made at Manchester United that I really didn't understand. They need a strong manager and strong leadership upstairs. The way they have handled the summer shows that there is a clear lack of leadership.”
Hamann highlighted the inconsistency across the pitch, with doubts about every part of the team apart from the young players like Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. He continued: “The United team is a mess. You have Garnacho and Mainoo, who are exciting, but there are doubts about every other player – be it the goalkeeper, the defence, the midfield or the attack. Even [Rasmus] Hojlund has to prove himself quickly, but at United you don't get much time.”
In the latest chapter of Manchester United's journey under new minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, sporting director Dan Ashworth was relieved of his duties after just five months in the role – a move that confirms Hamann's assessment and raises further questions about the club's leadership.
Reports of internal conflict over who should take over after Ten Hag paint a chaotic picture, especially given the summer transfer window, which saw United spend almost £90 million. One notable signing was former Ajax captain Matthijs De Ligt, who Ten Hag hoped would form a long-term partnership with Lisandro Martinez to replace the outgoing Raphael Varane.
Yet, in the midst of one of United's worst starts to a Premier League campaign, De Ligt has struggled to reproduce the form he showed with his former employers. Hamann said: “If De Ligt went to Liverpool or City in recent years, I don't think there would be any doubt about him.
“He is a very good player, but when you go to a club in turmoil, like Manchester United, it is never easy. You end up in a non-functioning team. If he had gone to Liverpool, where everything is working perfectly, he.” I just fit in.” Looking back on the 2019 Ajax team that lit up the Champions League, Hamann pointed out that few of his stars lived up to their potential.
“[Donnie] Van de Beek has disappeared, [Hakim] Ziyech never made it, or even [Frenkie] De Jong has had a difficult time in Barcelona. De Ligt is the best of the bunch, but the jury is still out on whether he can be a leader for a big club like United.” Despite his harsh words, Hamann hopes Amorim can restore Manchester United to its former glory, arguing that a strong United is good for the Premier League as a whole.
“They have a manager who offers optimism for the first time in a long time,” he said. “Hopefully Amorim is the leader they need because if Manchester United are strong, the competition will be better.” For Hamann, the focus remains on players like Mainoo – a shining light in a team looking for direction. If the young midfielder fulfills his potential, he could be the one to lead United back to the top.
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