Ian Wright believes Kobbie Mainoo has ’embarrassed’ Ruben Amorim with his impressive performances since Michael Carrick became Manchester United manager.
Mainoo was a peripheral figure in United’s squad under Amorim and did not start a Premier League game this season before the Portuguese was sacked on January 5.
The 20-year-old has started all four Premier League matches under Carrick and delivered another influential performance in the 2-0 win at home to Tottenham on Saturday.
Mainoo had considered a move away from United ahead of the January transfer window due to his lack of playing time under Amorim, but he now looks set to play a pivotal role in Carrick’s midfield for the remainder of the campaign.
‘This is the quality of Kobbie Mainoo and we saw that when he got into the team, the England team, he played in the Euros at 18, we know the quality he’s got,’ Wright told Premier League Productions after United beat Spurs.
‘Everybody was confused with what was happening under Ruben Amorim.
‘Because when you look at him, someone who’s not played, coming into a Man United side that’s not in great form, to play in that midfield which is where all the questions have been around… just the quality.
‘You’re listening to Bruno [Fernandes] saying they’ve been given the freedom to express themselves because they’re good players. And Kobbie is a very, very good player and I’m just pleased we’re seeing that now.
‘I think it’s very embarrassing for Ruben Amorim, if we’re going to be totally honest. Because what we seeing now is a Man United youth product not given the opportunity to play and very, very close to leaving the club.
‘He [Mainoo] was brilliant today, magnificent.’
Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov says he is ‘very happy’ that Mainoo has remained at United and believes the 20-year-old will improve even more under Carrick’s guidance.
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‘When I was watching him today, not only today, he’s constantly scanning the pitch, constantly scanning where he is, where his teammates are, making that picture in his head so he knows exactly when the ball how to play one touch, two touch,’ Berbatov said.
‘He’s very clever slowing the game when the game needs to be slowed down, draw the opposition towards him then pass the ball. This way it frees the space in the opposition half.
‘Again, very happy that he stayed at United, we are not forced to watch him play for another team because now we can see how good he really is and I think he can become even better.’
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