Kobbie Mainoo: Ruben Amorim was ‘wrong’ for dropping Manchester United midfielder, says Owen Hargreaves

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Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes that resurgent midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has shown his previous Old Trafford manager, Ruben Amorim, was wrong to drop him from the starting line-up for much of this season. Mainoo has been integral to Michael Carrick's perfect start as United's interim manager following the Portuguese's departure.

'He was wrong' - Hargreaves credits Mainoo for surviving Amorim freeze out

Video credit: TNT Sports

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves said it was "wrong" for Ruben Amorim to have dropped Kobbie Mainoo for much of this season ahead of the clash with Tottenham, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Amorim rarely gave the 20-year-old minutes during games as he said he wanted something different from his players in the midfield, and regularly prioritised Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and other players ahead of the England international.

That led to speculation that Mainoo wanted to leave the club either on loan or permanently, with clubs such as Napoli and West Ham linked to the player.

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Ultimately, Amorim was sacked and replaced by interim manager Michael Carrick, who has since brought Mainoo back to the starting XI as part of a United side that won Carrick’s first three consecutive matches in charge.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Hargreaves praised the youngster’s performance.

"He’s been a fabulous player," he said. "Playing in a midfield two or midfield three, there’s a huge difference.

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"It’s almost the perfect midfield three. Carrick knows that position better than anyone and can appreciate what Casemiro brings to the team.

"Kobbie, for him not to play for a year and come and play like this is amazing. I think they complete each other.

"Casemiro is the defensive one and Kobbie is the eight, then they can get it to Bruno.

"I don’t think Casemiro gets enough credit for the forward passes he can play."

Asked what Mainoo’s resurgence showed about Amorim’s decision to leave him on the sidelines, Hargreaves was clear that he thinks it was an error from the Portuguese manager.

"It just showed it was wrong," he added. "If anything, it was the formation more than anything.

"He only had two in there, and you were always going to play Casemiro and Bruno.

"But when you have a talent like this, and every time I watch this kid play football, it’s the same. He’s got courage to get on the ball. He’s quiet, he doesn’t say much, but his game talks.

"He didn’t play for a year, and he came in and played in a three in two of the hardest games you can ever play in.

"99% of players would have played poorly, but he’s got real courage, he got on the ball, he’s got personality and I just think being in between Casemiro and Bruno helps him.

"Credit has to go to Kobbie. Because he was always coming back into the team. Once they went to a back four and midfield three, Kobbie was going to play."

Joe Hart added: "Whatever his ceiling is, to be on the sideline, a lot being said, to come in and take care of business, credit to him."

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