The modern midfielder is complex.
Beyond are the days of perceptible roles, it seems. The hardships of the modern game mean that midfielders have to perform different tasks, regardless of whether they are physically suitable for them. That feels like the case with Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United.
The aim of the 19-year-old and assist in the Europa League collision against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday evening, the revelation offered that Mainoo could be better suited to play in an advanced role in midfield, but stared at us all the time in the time sight?
'I enjoyed it [playing in the No 10 position]”Mainoo told TNT Sports after the game.” I am just happy that I am on the field for Manchester United, where the manager also needs me to play. “
Mainoo's pleasure that is playing further forward was fed with the freedom with which he could perform at night, something that his boss Amorim feels that the midfielder has recently missed.
“He struggled a lot defensively as a midfielder,” Amorim De Pers said after the game.
“Now, more like a no. 10, you can feel that he was so free. Playing with the ball near the box, it is really good, the small connections. We need time to work with the players and the Best positions for them. “
Mainoo made a seamless transition to the first team of football during his breakout season in 2023/24 and became a fixture for both United and England. He started four games for the national side at Euro 2024, including the final.
For both United and England, Mainoo was used in a double pivot. He received a license to get ahead, but also had to fulfill his deeper responsibilities, help with grabbing and attacking attacks.
Although his attributes fit the role, it is deep in midfield not something that Mainoo was used before he breaks in the first team. Mainoo was a striker during his Academy Days before he went further during the FA Youth Cup-winning campaign of United from 2021/22.
Asked in the summer, during the euros, what part of the game he enjoys the most, Mainoo said: “As an attacker. When I was younger, I always enjoyed scoring goals.
“It is absolutely there as one of my favorite parts of the game, but I also like to defend. Everywhere on the field for England or United I don't mind where I play.
“I was a striker for the most part of my Academy Days. I love to sit on the ball. Playing Futsal, I was always comfortable to play in sleek areas and I liked to turn the ball.
“I was a bit frustrated as a striker. I didn't get the ball much and I love time with the ball, so it was more natural to go back, play a little 10, then I played on the wing and then more played Recent midfield.
It may not be his favorite role, but Mainoo has still succeeded in performing well at the base of midfield. He is in second place in terms of Tackle success in defending midfielders in the Premier League. Mainoo is also one of the best performing in-depth midfielders for interceptions, retaining possession and take-on. He also excels in some passing statistics.
But it is the lack of observed comfort of Mainoo in the position that Amorim is disturbing, those emerging options come up deeper in midfield with Bruno Fernandes and Toby Collyer who is also able to work together Manuel Ugarte in the Pivot.
“Everyone in England sees him as a very good player,” said Amorim. “He played in the final of the European Championship, so it's more the position.
“He is not comfortable, because before he was always playing and now it is not always playing. Maybe there is something to do with that, but the most important point is the position.
“It's different for him and demands a lot for him. And against Steaua Bucharest I felt more happy with it. I felt it, just looked at him. He was so happy on the field.”
Although many United fans may have expected that the place of Mainoo in the team under Amorim would be insured, that has not necessarily been the case. Just like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, he is even connected to an exit.
Injury has also influenced his involvement. He has only completed 90 minutes under Amorim. The 19-year-old is often one of the first to be replaced when Amorim points to make changes during competitions.
In one of the No. 10 positions, he got a promising new way to influence the team. But given the other options in those positions, with Fernandes and Garnacho that slowly adapt to the role, Mainoo has a fight on his hands to nail a place in the side.
Mainoo has become another headache for Amorim, because he wants to find a consistent winning formula.
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