Ruben Amorim has said he would be “really pleased” if Kobbie Mainoo decided to speak to him about a loan move away from Manchester United.
Amorim has not started Mainoo in any of United’s 15 Premier League games, with the midfielder’s only start coming in the Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby. In light of that, Amorim was asked in the buildup to Monday’s visit of Bournemouth if the 20-year-old had spoken to him regarding a temporary move.
“If Kobbie comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him,” said the head coach. “I’m not going to say what I’m going to say to Kobbie but I will be really pleased if Kobbie comes to talk to me about that. I just want my players happy and I understand that every individual has their goals.
“The frustration [of any player] doesn’t help anybody. But again, the focus is [Bournemouth] and we will see if that happens. I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players but about that subject, no I didn’t speak with him. I am completely open [to talk].”
Last week Paul Scholes claimed Amorim “doesn’t get the club”. The Portuguese was asked if comments such as these from United legends makes his job harder. “No, it’s not winning – not winning is the issue,” he said. “If I’m winning I can go to the games on a horse, arrive there, play with just two defenders and everything will be fine. The problem is that as a manager I’m not doing good enough and that is a fact also. So that is the only problem.
“Me as a manager of Manchester United, we are underachieving. We should have more points, especially this season. So I take that, naturally. Sometimes they [critical former players] don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here. Always winning. So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation.”
Scholes also questioned Amorim’s reluctance to start Mainoo in midfield, a stance echoed by Nicky Butt and Rio Ferdinand. “I know that for you guys there are some players that you believe in a lot and I believe a lot but sometimes I have to make choices,” said Amorim. “We play with two midfielders. We could change in the future but Kobbie Mainoo is playing in the same position as Bruno Fernandes and sometimes it’s really hard to take Bruno Fernandes out of the team and that is the only reason.”
Amorim was asked if he rates Mainoo highly. “Of course. Like everyone else,” the 40-year-old insisted. “Casemiro is the biggest example [of him changing his mind]. He was behind Toby [Collyer, now on loan at West Brom] and now he’s a star.”
Amorim did concede that Mainoo can operate in Casemiro’s position as the holding midfielder. “Yes, he can. I think it was against Everton – I took Casemiro out and I put Kobbie in there because we were trying to play a different game. He can play in that position. But it’s hard sometimes. Sometimes Kobbie Mainoo, you have to think [if he is] the guy for blocking transitions. He needs to spend more time there but he can be in that position in the future.”
