Former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov has heaped praise on midfielder Kobbie Mainoo following the Red Devils’ 2-0 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.
United continued their fine league form with a fourth-straight victory. Cristian Romero’s early red card handed them an advantage, but they still had to get the job done by finding the net.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring prior to the interval. United toiled hard after the break and eventually put the game beyond sight. Bruno Fernandes scored a second goal in the 81st minute.
Fernandes was handed the man of the match award for his goal. He could have had an assist too. Benjamin Sesko squandered a golden scoring opportunity in the dying seconds of the victory.
Speaking after the game, Berbatov was pleased with Mainoo’s midfield masterclass. The former United striker said the Englishman was ‘very clever’ at slowing the game down when required.
The Bulgarian also expressed his pleasure after Mainoo stayed put with the Red Devils. He believes the United graduate is already a top-class midfielder and can become even better in the future.
He told Premier League productions (via Metro): “When I was watching him today, not only today, he’s constantly scanning the pitch, constantly scanning where he is, where his teammates are, making that picture in his head so he knows exactly when the ball how to play one touch, two touch.
“He’s very clever slowing the game when the game needs to be slowed down, draw the opposition towards him then pass the ball. This way it frees the space in the opposition half.
“Again, very happy that he stayed at United, we are not forced to watch him play for another team because now we can see how good he really is and I think he can become even better.”
Mainoo was largely ignored by former manager Ruben Amorim, who preferred to play Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield role alongside Casemiro. Mainoo found himself on the substitutes’ bench.
The 20-year-old did not make a single league start under the Portuguese’s tutelage earlier this season, but his fortunes have completely changed under caretaker head coach Michael Carrick.
He bagged his second assist of the league season against Spurs yesterday. Fernandes cleverly passed to Mainoo from a corner. The club graduate had the vision to spot Mbeumo at the edge of the box.
Aside from his goal contribution, Mainoo completed 75 out of 80 passes with an accuracy of 94 percent. He also won eight duels, made four recoveries and created four chances for his teammates.
He had his best game of the campaign yesterday and looks undroppable at the moment, something that seemed a distant possibility when Amorim was at the helm earlier this season.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com