Man Utd youngster Kobbie Mainoo was included in England’s squad for the World Cup after a red hot run of form.
Kobbie Mainoo has admitted that he suffered “difficult times” during Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United. Amorim could not find a way to fit Mainoo into his system, experimenting with him in different positions.
Amorim once attempted to play Mainoo up front in a home defeat to Crystal Palace. The 41-year-old eventually decided that Mainoo would be pitted against Bruno Fernandes for minutes in a deeper midfield position.
Mainoo did not start a Premier League game this season until Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick immediately reinstated him to the starting team, and his sparkling form in the second half of the campaign earned him a place in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
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United have rewarded Mainoo with a new five-year contract to safeguard his future at Old Trafford, but he would have been forced to leave his boyhood club if Amorim had remained in charge.
Reflecting on the first half of his season, Mainoo told England reporters in the USA: “I mean, obviously there were difficult times.
“But I tried to keep my focus on what was in front of me, take things day by day and just keep working my craft, keep working hard for the team, and I hoped the rest would come. Thankfully it has.”
When asked if he had Carrick to partly thank for his World Cup call-up, he said: “Definitely, and I told him that I was very grateful. Because if he hadn’t put me on the pitch, then I wouldn’t have been here so, I’m always grateful to him for that.”
Mainoo shared his delight at Crrick’s appointment, adding: “We were very happy with it, obviously, I love the way he coaches and manages me personally in the team as well. I think everyone in the squad can agree with that. When he officially got the job, we were all so happy.”
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The youngster believes England can win the World Cup. “One hundred per cent,” he said. “I feel like everyone in the squad, staff, everyone believes we can win it.
“But that doesn’t come easy. It’s very special, something I’ve dreamed of, and I’m sure all the players have dreamed of since they were really young.
“So to be here and say that I’m playing in a World Cup is unbelievable. I’ve always wanted to play in a World Cup for all my life. It’s the biggest tournament in the world, so it’s definitely different from the Euros, but we will try and approach it in the same way with the goal that we want to win.”
Mainoo started in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, and former England manager Gareth Southgate heaped praise on him during that tournament, suggesting the Three Lions had not had a talent like Mainoo in midfield.
The Stockport-born lad submitted a request to leave United on loan in the final week of last summer’s transfer window. However, the request was denied, and Mainoo continued to struggle for game time until Amorim was sacked amid rising tensions with the board in January.
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