The modern midfielder is complex.
Gone are the days of discernible roles, it seems. The rigours of the modern game mean midfielders must fulfil a variety of duties regardless of whether they are physically suited to them. That feels like the case with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.
The 19-year-old’s goal and assist in Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Steaua Bucharest offered the revelation that Mainoo could be better suited to playing in an advanced role in midfield but was it staring us in the face all along?
“I enjoyed it [playing in the No 10 position],” Mainoo told TNT Sports after the game. “I’m just happy to be on the pitch for Manchester United wherever the manager needs me to play.”
Mainoo’s enjoyment playing further forward fed into the freedom that he was able to perform with on the night, something that his boss Amorim feels the midfielder has lacked recently.
“He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder,” Amorim told the press after the game.
“Now, more as a No 10, you can feel that he was so free. Playing with the ball near the box, he is really good, the small connections. We need time to work with the players and understand the best positions for them.”
Mainoo made a seamless transition into first-team football during his breakout season in 2023/24, becoming a fixture for both United and England. He went on to start four games for the national side at Euro 2024, including the final.
For both United and England, Mainoo was deployed in a double pivot. He was given licence to get forward but also had to fulfil his deeper-lying responsibilities, helping to break up play and initiate attacks.
While his attributes suit the role, playing deep in midfield isn’t something Mainoo was used to prior to breaking into the first-team fold. Mainoo was a striker during his academy days before moving further back during United’s FA Youth Cup-winning campaign of 2021/22.
Asked in the summer, during the Euros, which part of the game he enjoys the most, Mainoo said: “Being an attacker. When I was younger, I always enjoyed scoring goals.
“It’s definitely up there as one of my favourite parts of the game but I like defending as well. Anywhere on the pitch for England or United, I don’t mind where I play.
“I was a striker for most of my academy days. I love being on the ball. Playing futsal, I was always comfortable playing in tight areas and like to turn with the ball.
“I was getting a bit frustrated playing as a striker. I wasn’t getting the ball a lot and I love time with the ball so it was more natural to move back, play No 10 a bit, then I played on the wing and then more recently played centre midfield.”
It may not be his favoured role but Mainoo has still managed to perform well at the base of midfield. He ranks second in terms of tackle success among defensive midfielders in the Premier League. Mainoo is also amongst the best-performing deep-lying midfielders for interceptions, retaining possession and take-ons. He also excels in some passing metrics.
But it’s Mainoo’s lack of perceived comfort in the position that’s troubling Amorim, who has emerging options deeper in midfield with Bruno Fernandes and Toby Collyer also able to partner Manuel Ugarte in the pivot.
“Everybody in England sees him as a very good player,” said Amorim. “He played in the European Championship final so it’s more the position.
“He’s not comfortable because before he was always playing and now isn’t always playing. Maybe there is something to do with that but the key point is the position.
“It’s different for him and demands a lot for him. And against Steaua Bucharest, I felt more happy with it. I felt it, just watching him. He was so happy on the pitch.”
Although many United fans may have expected Mainoo’s place in the team under Amorim to be assured, that hasn’t necessarily been the case. Like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, he has even been linked with an exit.
Injury has also impacted his involvement. He has completed 90 minutes just three times under Amorim. The 19-year-old is often one of the first to be substituted when Amorim seeks to make alterations during matches.
In one of the No 10 positions, he has been granted a promising new avenue to impact the team. But given the other options in those positions, with Fernandes and Garnacho slowly adapting to the role, Mainoo has a fight on his hands to nail down a place in the side.
Mainoo has become yet another headache for Amorim as he looks to find a consistent winning formula.