Ruben Amorim urges Kobbie Mainoo to fight for his place at Manchester United
Manchester United’s recent match was played against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on August 27, 2025, and it proved to be the most embarrassing result in the club’s history. United were already 2-0 behind against the fourth division team, and then Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire came back in the second half to level the score.
After this, the match went to a penalty shootout, but United lost 12-11. The biggest blow was that Mbeumo missed the decisive penalty, and the team were eliminated. With this defeat, for the first time in history, United accepted defeat from a fourth division team in the Carabao Cup. The 15th position of last season and the lack of victory in three matches in the current season have deepened the pressure. Now the only question before the Premier League game against Burnley is how manager Ruben Amorim will change the situation.
Kobbie Mainoo and Amorim’s stance
Before the Burnley match, Amorim made it clear in the pre-match press conference about Kobbie Mainoo that the club will not let him go. He hinted that Mainoo will have to fight to get his place, and the team needs him. The 20-year-old midfielder is currently disappointed because he has not got much game time in the Premier League yet. His role has changed since the arrival of Ruben Amorim, and he just sat on the bench in the first two league matches. So far, the Englishman’s only full 90-minute game of the season has come in the EFL Cup defeat against Grimsby Town.
Ruben Amorim urges Kobbie Mainoo to fight for his place at Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim has no plans to let Kobbie Mainoo leave United
“I want Kobbie to stay. He needs to fight for his place, and we need Kobbie. So that is not going to change.”
Quote via: Manchester Evening News.
Mainoo became a star by scoring a goal in the FA Cup final in 2023/23, and since then, the club have considered him a part of a long project. However, now the situation has changed because the World Cup is near and he feels that by constantly sitting on the bench, he may lose his place.
That is why Mainoo expressed his desire to go on loan from the club, but United flatly refused him. The club reiterated that his contract runs until 2027, and he must stay and compete with a senior figure like Bruno Fernandes. Despite this, talks over a contract extension are stalled, raising questions about Mainoo’s future. Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to complete a key signing in the next 24 hours.
Opinion:
Amorim needs to boost Mainoo’s confidence by giving him confidence on the pitch, not just in words. Constantly sitting on the bench is not the right message for a young player, and if the manager truly believes him to be a vital part of the club, then opportunities in the Premier League are a must.
On the other hand, Mainoo also needs to be patient and prove himself in every training session. If he manages to compete against Bruno Fernandes, that will be the real turning point in his career. Manchester United’s best bet is to use a player who has come through their academy rather than lose him. Defeats like the one against Grimsby Town are a reminder that this team need soul and passion, and a player like Mainoo can provide that.
Ruben Amorim could perhaps field Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo together in a 4-3-3, with Mainoo as the deeper controller and Bruno as the advanced playmaker, or in a 4-2-3-1, pairing Mainoo alongside a holding midfielder. This might solve the situation. Meanwhile, in other news, Manchester United are keen to land Atletico Madrid star before the summer window ends.