WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED? Ratcliffe will hope that the many changes his team have made will help turn results around amid their worrying performances. The Red Devils will attempt to bounce back in their next game against Southampton on September 14.
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Graeme Souness labelled Manchester United as “FC Hollywood” and questioned Kobbie Mainoo’s starting role after he was “run over” by Liverpool.
Mainoo was a revelation for United last season with several scintillating performances in midfield. He even netted the FA Cup winner against Manchester City at Wembley and was so impressive in the run-up to the final that Gareth Southgate included him in the Three Lions squad for the European Championship in Germany.
However, following United’s recent 3-0 loss to bitter rivals Liverpool, Souness expressed his concerns about the 19-year-old’s role in the team, suggesting that the teenager is being burdened with too much responsibility too soon. He argued that Mainoo, while a promising talent, is not yet ready to be a regular starter for a club like United and it is unfair to expect a player of his age and experience to be the talisman at the centre of the park.
WHAT SOUNESS SAID
In an interview with talkSPORT, the Liverpool legend said: “I have to say this, I’m not being unkind, Mainoo might be a player, but it’s so Man United. This is not to be critical of Man United, it’s never been any different. But when someone comes on the scene at Man United, in my days they were the ‘new George Best’, or the ‘new Bobby Charlton’, the ‘new Denis Law’. It is FC Hollywood, they call Bayern Munich in Germany ‘FC Hollywood’, that’s Man United here. If anyone shows anything, they’re put into the superstardom category, way before they’ve even become a good player.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Souness believes that Mainoo, while undoubtedly talented, should be playing a rotational role as he matures and gains experience.
“Mainoo right now should be a player that’s flitting in and out of a good team – not coming in and being asked to stand up and play against the very best teams,” he said. He might be a player one day, but he’s certainly not the go-to man at United like they’re making him out to be in midfield. They got ran over, they were not in the game yesterday.”
The numbers support Souness’s argument, as Mainoo’s appearances this season have coincided with a string of poor results for Manchester United. Out of the four games he has played so far, United have lost three, including the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City.
WHAT NEXT FOR MAINOO?
Mainoo’s focus now shifts to international duty as he joins the England squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland. He will return to action with United after the international break when the Red Devils face Southampton.
