Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence in the 2023–24 season felt like the long‑awaited unveiling of Manchester United’s next midfield maestro.
Drawn from the club’s academy into Erik ten Hag’s midfield, the Stockport-born youngster displayed a rare blend of poise, vision and composure, guiding United to FA Cup glory with performances that belied his youth. Mainoo's seamless transition from developmental prospect to senior international for England underlined his rapid rise.
Yet, the following campaign was a sobering reminder that potential must be married to resilience. Untimely injuries stalled the youngster’s momentum, and inconsistent form began to shadow those early flashes of brilliance.
The appointment of Rúben Amorim in November 2024 intensified the pressure: Mainoo now faced a tactical puzzle with which to prove himself, as a result of a new system demanding relentless physical intensity in the middle of the park.
Now, more than ever, the question looms: does Mainoo possess the mental fortitude to transform promise into permanence, and will he ever truly fit into Amorim's system?
Amorim's high-intensity midfield blueprint
Amorim's United is forged in the image of his Sporting CP brand: a 3–4–3 system underpinned by relentless pressing out of possession and a short-passing possession game.
Under Amorim, the Red Devils will deploy a double pivot in the middle of the park, with two number 10s also operating higher up the pitch in the pockets behind the striker, a structure designed to combine defensive solidity with incessant creativity.
The double pivot sees two number eights sit at the heart of the system, tasked with screening the back three by intercepting passes, shuffling laterally to block channels, and recovering loose balls before threats can develop. Possession inevitably shifts through this anchor, so these players must exhibit both calm under pressure and the vision to shift play quickly - often slipping angled passes into the half-spaces or finding the advancing wing-backs to stretch the opposition’s shape.
Higher up the pitch, the two number 10s must function as both architects and agitators. They are charged with reading pressing triggers and punishing the resulting disarray with incisive through-balls or nimble dribbles.
Their movement must be fluid and interchangeable, creating overloads in wide corridors before cutting inside to link with the striker or ghosting into the penalty area at exactly the right moment. Equally important is their role in the team’s first wave of defence: the moment possession is lost, both must press in unison to close down centre-backs, deny easy outlets, and force hurried clearances.
Throughout the ninety minutes, Amorim's midfield must display perfect harmony between tactical intelligence and physical intensity. For Mainoo to thrive, he will need to embrace the defensive responsibility and physical demands required to play in Amorim's midfield two, or showcase his creative abilities in the dynamic freedom of the number 10 role.
Number eight or number 10? The Mainoo conundrum
At the core of Kobbie Mainoo’s evolution lies a fundamental question: does he belong in United's engine room as a dynamic number eight, or does his future shine brightest as a creative number 10?
In the number eight role, Mainoo would be charged with recovering the ball in central areas, bridging the gap between defence and attack, and covering the spaces left by probing wing-backs.
His composure on the ball and expansive passing range suggest he could excel in linking phases in this position, yet the 20-year-old's relative lack of physical robustness and occasional lapses in defensive positioning leave unanswered questions about his capacity to endure the relentless box-to-box demands of Amorim's system.
Shifting him into the number 10 position would place Mainoo closer to the striker, where he can exploit half-spaces with his spatial intelligence and unlock defences via precise through-balls or clever dribbles. Freed from the constant rigours of midfield duels, he could concentrate on orchestrating attacks and supplying the creative spark that unlocks tight backlines.
However, this pathway is far from unobstructed: summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo have staked early claims as the primary creators behind the forward, while Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee loom as additional competition. As a result, Mainoo’s pathway to consistent minutes in an advanced midfield role may be narrower than his talent deserves - making his adaptability all the more crucial.
Competition intensifies, but Amorim's faith remains
This summer’s overhaul at Old Trafford has bolstered the Red Devils' options in advanced midfield areas with Cunha and Mbuemo, who flourished in the Premier League last season, making the move to Old Trafford.
In the number eight position, captain Bruno Fernandes is anticipated to adopt one half of the midfield pivot, partnering a specialist defensive-minded midfielder capable of shielding the defence.
Manuel Ugarte provides the engine and tenacity that align naturally with Amorim’s high‑octane demands, while Casemiro, despite advancing years, could bring the defensive nous and seasoned game intelligence required alongside an attack-minded partner like Fernandes.
Beyond those incumbents, United are also reportedly keen to recruit another midfielder once their move for a new striker is concluded. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has emerged as a target and is a player the club admire.
Against this backdrop, Mainoo’s path to the starting XI appears narrow. However, Amorim’s own public praise of Mainoo suggests a commitment to his development. Speaking on the 20-year-old during pre-season, the United boss said, “I think he can play in both positions in the midfield. Last year, he played more in front. I think his perfect position is more near the ball, always with the ball. I think he's a big talent.
"I think he needs to increase the rhythm, the pace. I'm always on top of that with Kobbie because he's so good sometimes, but he can be better. So I have big plans but, like I said, it's one game per week and the competition is going to be huge."
That vote of confidence points to a carefully managed development plan rather than an immediate starting berth. Mainoo’s early season-minutes will likely come off the bench, with tactical auditions against less formidable opponents and opportunities in fixtures demanding control or invention. If the midfielder can meld incremental improvements in physical duals and defensive awareness, those initial cameos could pave the way for a more sustained role as the campaign unfolds.
The season's crucible
Manchester United’s upcoming season under Amorim carries the dual promise of revival and reinvention. For Kobbie Mainoo, it represents a crossroads: can he toughen his defensive resolve and embrace the number eight role with sufficient physical assertiveness, or will he strive to outshine peers in the pecking order for a number 10 berth?
Early indicators will emerge in the opening weeks of the Premier League - a period when a single positive performance can shift momentum. If Mainoo can endure the system’s physical rigours while delivering the moments of composure and vision that once dazzled, he may yet silence doubters and justify Amorim’s faith, evolving from promising youngster to indispensable cog in Manchester United’s midfield machine for years to come.