Ruben Amorim has had a nice transfer window, and his job is now to get the best out of those players, with one player already in his sight, in particular.
Manchester United bought ready-made players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and they were supplemented by project players like Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens.
However, amidst the shine of the new signings, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the team Ruben Amorim already had at his disposal vastly underperformed last season.
He is now focused on one player from that squad to make him ‘so much better’, because the media thinks he’s done, but Amorim says it’s not enough.
Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United in action during a first team training session
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim gives Kobbie Mainoo a challenge
The topic of Kobbie Mainoo unexpectedly dominated the headlines as the transfer window inched towards closure.
Mainoo is yet to start a league game for United this season, and with fixtures against Man City and Chelsea coming up, that streak is likely to continue.
Mainoo wanted to leave on loan for regular games, but Man Utd blocked that move in a saga that required Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s intervention.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, Amorim was asked about his thoughts on Mainoo, and the Man Utd manager laid down a gauntlet for the player, albeit one with plenty of praise.
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He said: ” I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that he is already done [fully developed]. I think he can do so much better. He can improve a lot.
“For some guys, it’s enough, but for him, it’s not enough. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Mainoo. If I feel during the week that he’s the best player to play, he’s going to play, and I have already proved that to every player here.
“I believe a lot in him. He’s a top, top player, but he can be so much better. I’m focused on [making him reach that level].”
A crucial season for Mainoo
On the one hand, it’s good to see Amorim introduce competition in the squad and take away the academy players’ “saviour syndrome”.
It cost Alejandro Garnacho, as it gave him an inflated sense of squad status which his current ability didn’t justify, even though his potential could.
Amorim is clearly trying to save Mainoo from the same pitfall, but the midfielder is much more ready than Garnacho, especially at a position where United’s current options have hardly set the world alight.
He acknowledges himself that maybe “it’s not fair”, which is striking, because Mainoo missing the World Cup next year due to a lack of games this season could damage his relationship with the club.
A compromise is needed from both sides, where Mainoo tries to do things Amorim’s way, but the manager also gives him a consistent platform to prove that he can do it.
This is going to be the season where Mainoo takes his game to another level, or leaves the club at the end of it.