by Ruben Amorim has warned Kobbie Mainoo not to believe the hype that he is the ‘finished article’ and focus on improving, amid negotiations over the teenager’s future at Manchester United.
The 19-year-old midfielder, whose contract runs until 2027 with the option of a further year, has been a United regular since joining the first team from the club’s academy and is looking to increase his salary of £20,000 per week. . Mainoo’s partnership with Manuel Ugarte gives reason for optimism and the duo could start together again on Sunday as United travel to Arsenal, where Amorim suffered the first defeat of their reign, in the FA Cup third round.
“I think Kobbie Mainoo is improving a lot in the last few games, I think you guys [the media] I feel like Kobbie Mainoo is the finished product – he’s not, he has so much potential to grow even more,” Amorim said. “He’s really good but he can be so much better. I think he’s getting better, all the players are getting better, all the players are important to me no matter what.
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United is not actively trying to sell Mainoo but would be open to a substantial offer that could help United comply with profitability and sustainability rules.
United are the FA Cup holders after beating Manchester City in last season’s final. This was enough to keep Erik ten Hag in his job in the short term, but continued poor league form this season led to his demise. Sunday will be Amorim’s first taste of the competition, and it will be a very rough introduction against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates.
The Portuguese manager learned about United’s history by watching documentaries about the club, including a documentary on how Sir Alex Ferguson’s job was saved by winning a third round match at Nottingham Forest and lifting the trophy in 1989-90.
When asked how the FA Cup could act as a springboard for his tenure, Amorim replied: “Because of the feeling of winning, that feeling gives you so much confidence. If you gain one thing and think you can gain more, then that feeling is addictive. You feel it and it’s really easy to follow that to try to win it again.
United have won the FA Cup 13 times – twice since Ferguson left in 2013 – and Amorim, keen to progress in the competition, will not rotate his squad heavily but will hand goalkeeper Altay Bayindir a rare start. United have enjoyed a free midweek since Sunday’s draw at Liverpool and Amorim is eager to build momentum after a difficult run of five defeats in seven Premier League matches and find his best XI.
“The best team depends on them [the players]“, said Amorim. “But you can see the rotation is different now. For example, Manu [Ugarte] plays more than Casemiro. You can see some guys are winning the position more but for me the position is still open. It depends on how they play and how they train. So I think we’re closer [to finding the best XI].
“We have more time [together]we have the games, the rating of the games. And now with the small training we have, you will be able to better understand the players and the way you want to play.
“Sometimes it’s not about picking the best player on the team, it’s the best player who can fill the position as I see it, so we are closer.”
