Owen Hargreaves slams Ruben Amorim over Kobbie Mainoo decision after Man Utd defeat to Man City | Football
Owen Hargreaves has criticised Ruben Amorim for refusing to start Kobbie Mainoo in Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
United struggled to trouble City at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s side sealed the win with Phil Foden’s first-half header, plus a double from Erling Haaland after the break.
Amorim has come under fire once again over his decision to play Bruno Fernandes in a midfield pairing alongside Manuel Ugarte, while Mainoo started the game on the bench.
The 20-year-old, who is yet to start a Premier League match this season, was brought on in the 62nd minute and delivered an impressive cameo in central midfield.
Hargreaves hailed Mainoo as United’s best player ‘by a country mile’ against City and believes Amorim must now find a way to fit the England international in his midfield.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
‘Where do you want to start? There are a lot of issues,’ Hargreaves told Premier League Productions.
‘How Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t play in this team I’ll never know.
‘He came on for that game and in half hour he was probably their best player, by a country mile. So first of all he’s got to play.
‘Sesko is not ready. He scored a lot of goals in Germany but he didn’t look ready today. You look at Haaland, the way he ran about and pressed, he just wasn’t active enough, I know he didn’t get much service but he’s got to be more active.
‘Mbeumo is top, Cunha is top. Bruno can’t play there as a central defensive midfielder any more, he’s got to play as a No.10.
‘The way it’s set up now it’s not working, so tweak it. You could make five changes, play Mbeumo up front, Cunha and Bruno as No.10s, Kobbie has got to get into the team, fact. You give yourself half a chance, I don’t see it.
‘They had more possession than City today but they didn’t look the better team. Did they look like scoring much? No.’
Metro at the Match: Man City 3-0 Man Utd
Metro at the Match returns to bring you all the analysis from the biggest games of the season.
Here are our team’s key takeaways from Manchester City’s dominant 3-0 win over Manchester United at the Etihad.
There were mistakes, but this was not an entirely abject performance from Manchester United and, as Bernardo Silva noted at half-time, they appear to have improved on last season. That has to be a good thing, but it may be a bleak realisation for Red Devils fans that even an improved United are still a long, long way behind a City not even at their peak. – Phil Haigh, sports reporter.
I just do not understand Amorim’s system. If you’re playing with wing-backs you have to use the width and it seems like he consistently instructs his centre-backs and goalkeeper to pass into the centre. It just makes no sense. – Alex Moneypenny
Altay Bayindir needs replacing quickly. He looks suspect with the ball at his feet, left a lot of the goal gaping for Foden to head home the opener and does not inspire any confidence. Clearly not a top level goalkeeper, but is unproven new signing Senne Lammens the answer? – Phil Haigh, sports reporter.
I thought Jeremy Doku had a fantastic game, his feet, his close control is excellent. Drifting into pockets and getting two assists. – Alex Moneypenny
While Bayindir struggles to convince at one end, Gianluigi Donnarumma quickly made his presence felt at the other. The giant Italian may not have loads to do in an average Manchester City game, but will need to be alert when called upon. That’s what happened here, pulling off a stunning save from a Bryan Mbeumo volley in the second half. Another world class addition to the City squad. – Phil Haigh, sports reporter.
Speaking after United’s defeat, Amorim remained adamant that he would not change his midfield system in order to accommodate Mainoo.
‘I know it’s really hard for people, and the fans don’t want to hear me saying these things. I know they are not going to listen and they will be upset, with that I cannot to anything,’ Amorim said.
‘I’m trying to be rational and I do not lie to myself, so I see the record, I understand the frustration of everybody, and I understand the decision that came with that.
‘But that conversation about the two midfielders, the pair, Kobbie Mainoo, I understand all these narratives but then when I look at certain games, we play with two, it’s the same thing.
‘Today, when you imagine the game, why not use Amad, Bryan, Sesko, and Bruno behind with the ball? To be the first guy receiving the ball and then with a lot of pace in front.
‘I’m trying to do different things, trying to imagine the game and then when you don’t win, it doesn’t work, you take the critics, that’s it.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Peter Schmeichel reveals Gianluigi Donnarumma response to Manchester United transfer after Man City win
MORE: Ruben Amorim told three Man Utd stars ‘do not work in the Premier League’ after Man City win
MORE: Peter Schmeichel hits out at Ruben Amorim and tells him what he must do
Owen Hargreaves slams Ruben Amorim over Kobbie Mainoo decision after Man Utd defeat to Man City | Football
#Owen #Hargreaves #slams #Ruben #Amorim #Kobbie #Mainoo #decision #Man #Utd #defeat #Man #City #Football
