Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United remain winless in the 2026/26 Premier League campaign after drawing 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday afternoon – and Rio Ferdinand has shared his own personal theory as to why Kobbie Mainoo is yet to play a minute under the Portuguese tactician this season.
The Red Devils are two games into Amorim’s first full campaign in the Old Trafford dugout – but from games against Arsenal and Marco Silva’s Fulham, they have the mere point. United’s head coach has won just seven of his 29 Premier League matches.
At Craven Cottage this weekend, there were fewer positives to take than there were from the opening weekend following a narrow 1-0 loss to the Mikel Arteta's Gunners, while Mainoo’s ongoing lack of minutes is also cause for concern for the Old Trafford faithful.
Rio Ferdinand’s Theory for Mainoo’s Lack of Premier League Minutes This Season
Rio Ferdinand
A fan favourite during his breakout season, Mainoo – who is viewed as one of the best young players in the Premier League – also earned himself a spot in England’s Euro 2024, where he started in the final against Spain alongside Declan Rice.
Last season, the Carrington graduate played 37 times for the club – equating to 2,079 minutes – as he helped them reach the Europa League final. Mainoo’s a young lad and will not be expecting to play every game, but it’s still a surprise to see the likes of Manuel Ugarte subbed on when they’re chasing a game.
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Ferdinand, taking to his own YouTube channel as his former employers, United, still look for their first three-point haul of the season, has shared his own reason as to why Mainoo, a 10-cap England international, is being relentlessly sidelined.
“I think he’s the type of player, I think he’s got the talent to build around, but you’ve got to have the team functioning and playing in a particular way. I had a debate – there are some players who need the system to be able to perform. There’s some great players we’ve got in this country right now, I’ll go through a few of them, I think Kobbie Mainoo needs a system to play in.”
Comparing him to Manchester City’s Phil Foden, who was also born in Stockport, he said: “I think Phil Foden needs a system to play in, I think for them to play to their optimum best. Cole Palmer can go anywhere, I think, to go and play and be Cole Palmer – there’s certain players who are just going to do what they do.”
After the full-time whistle, Mainoo – who remains a perfect professional despite a confusing lack of minutes – cut a frustrated figure as he stepped on the pitch to applaud the travelling United fans. Watch the footage below:
Explaining why the 20-year-old midfielder is yet to feature in England’s top flight this term, Amorim – widely regarded as one of the best young managers in world football – insisted that he is having to fight for his place with club captain Bruno Fernandes.
“[Kobbie] Mainoo is fighting for his position with Bruno [Fernandes]. I changed two midfielders, I left Mason Mount there because we wanted to score a goal and when I changed, I felt the team needed one holding midfielder.”
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Reiterating the fact that Mainoo needs to, somehow, dislodge Fernandes from his starting berth in the middle of the park, he continued: “So, he needs to fight for his position with Bruno. At the moment, he is fighting in training with Bruno for the position."