Manchester United’s young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo must enhance his defensive skills if he hopes to thrive in Ruben Amorim’s system.
That’s the opinion of Liverpool icon Graeme Souness, who believes the 19-year-old has yet to develop a strong sense of danger.
It has been a tough season for United, who sit 13th in the Premier League after losing seven of their last 11 games.
Mainoo, one of last season’s breakout stars, played a crucial role in United’s FA Cup triumph and England’s journey to the Euro 2024 final. However, he has struggled to recapture that form this campaign.
Amorim recently admitted that Mainoo is finding it difficult to contribute defensively, leading to a tactical experiment that pushed him into a more advanced role.
The results have been disappointing. He was ineffective as a striker in United’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace and failed to impress as an attacking midfielder in the FA Cup win over Leicester.
Souness, writing in his Daily Mail column, was unsurprised by Amorim’s assessment.
“I said last June that, among England’s young midfielders, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton had a much better grasp of defensive responsibilities than Mainoo,” he noted.
“Mainoo stands out because of his technical ability—he moves well, pops up across the pitch—but he doesn’t yet recognize danger and vacates key areas too easily,” Souness continued. “He’s still learning, but at 19, with the right coaching, he can develop into a more complete midfielder.”
Improving Mainoo’s defensive discipline is just one of many challenges Amorim faces at Old Trafford. United’s next test comes next Sunday when they take on fellow strugglers Tottenham in a crucial league fixture.