Football
“It’s crazy”: Kobbie Mainoo names two United teammates he was really impressed by this season
Kobbie Mainoo has opened up on his meteoric rise and breakout season with Manchester United.
During an extremely underwhelming and disappointing 2023/24 term, Mainoo was one of the few beacons of hope for United and their supporters.
Since he returned to the team in November after recovering from an injury sustained in pre-season, Mainoo never looked back and only went on to cement his place in the first team under Erik ten Hag.
The 19-year-old made 32 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions. In that time, Mainoo managed five goals and one assist. He was crowned United’s man-of-the-match as they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley to clinch silverware. Mainoo’s goal secured the club’s victory over Pep Guardiola’s men and saw them end their campaign on a relatively more positive note.
Mainoo’s calm and composed performances – which have often made him stand out head and shoulders above some of his more senior and experienced teammates – earned him a senior England debut in March.
Unsurprisingly, the Carrington academy graduate was included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad ahead of Euro 2024 and when the Three Lions kick face Serbia in their opening group game on June 16, Mainoo has a solid chance of being part of the starting XI.
He spoke to Dazed and reflected on the past 12 and how crazy it has all been for him and his family.
Mainoo said, “I knew it was a big chance, and not many of them come around, you know? knew I had to come and make an impression and show myself on the pitch. It’s a great feeling.”
He spoke about his first Old Trafford goal – a sublime curling effort which came in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
“It was 1-1 at the time and that was the stuff you dream of. It was a dream I’d always had, running towards the family stand at the Stretford End.”
On how he has managed such significant life shifts in a short space of time, Mainoo remarked, “I just have to adapt quickly and try to get used to all this change. I have good support behind me, and a good family so it’s not too crazy because they keep me grounded. They keep me humble.”
He added, “It doesn’t feel too much different. Things are happening very fast in life and there are a lot of games in such a short period. You don’t get a lot of time to stop and think about these things that are going on.”
The midfielder shed some light on his childhood and how he finally found himself at United. He explained, “I think I played well in that [for his junior football club in a friendly against Manchester City]; I scored a couple of goals and ended up going to the development centre at City for a bit.”
“I was at United as well; I did both together for a while before I finally chose United.”
Mainoo named Brazilian icon Ronaldinho as his favourite player, mainly because he expressed himself on the pitch and always played with a smile himself.
According to the United youngster, this is how he also views football – a fun activity that should always be enjoyed.
Mainoo pointed out how it feels like to play with some of the players he used to look at in awe, both in the England camp and at United. He pinpointed Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as the teammates whom he currently learns the most from on a daily basis.
“Sometimes I sit down and I get these moments where I’m like, ’Two years ago you were on my Fifa team and now I’m playing with you and I’m arguing with you on the pitch.’ So in that sense it’s crazy.”
“Last season when I was just training with the first team and I wasn’t playing with them, I used to think, ’How are they so quick to everything, how did they see that pass?’ So I just watched them to see what they were doing, where they were looking and what moves they were making, and tried to emulate it and put it into my game as well.”
He also had nice things to say about Raphael Varane and Diogo Dalot. “Raphaël told me one thing which was great advice: the best investment you make is investing in your body. Obviously, as a footballer, your body is your instrument, it’s what you use. So I took that on board.”
Mainoo told Dazed that his primary goal is not only to be known as a great footballer but also a great person.
He finished off by saying that he wants people to respect his game.
Football
“Call it a Day”: Manchester United Midfielder Slammed Over ‘Disastrous’ Liverpool Performance
Old Trafford witnessed a revealing scene during the pre-game festivities as Manuel Ugarte was introduced to the Manchester United faithful. The Uruguayan’s debut couldn’t have come at a more poignant time.
As the 23-year-old midfielder took his introductory bows, his predecessor, Casemiro, was gearing up for what would become a fateful encounter against Liverpool—a match that would underline the vast gulf the Brazilian now needs to bridge.
The defensive midfield role at Manchester United has been a subject of intense scrutiny and Casemiro, once a stalwart at Real Madrid, found himself overwhelmed in a game that laid bare many of United’s deeper systemic issues.
The match ended in a 3-0 defeat, with Casemiro’s disastrous performance a glaring weak spot. As Jamie Carragher insightfully remarked earlier, it might be time for Casemiro to step away from the top echelons of football, suggesting, “Football has left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level and move.”
Despite the immediate criticisms, it’s crucial to remember Casemiro’s significant contributions to football, underscored by his wife’s poignant social media post showcasing his extensive trophy haul.
Such a decorated career deserves recognition, even as discussions about his current form persist. As Gary Neville empathetically noted, even the best can falter under pressure, reflecting on his own career’s twilight years.
For Manchester United, the challenge is not just about replacing a player but about realigning their entire midfield setup to compete effectively against top-tier teams like Liverpool.
Casemiro’s situation serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pace and physicality of the Premier League, where even the most experienced players can find themselves outpaced and outplayed
Football
“Biggest mistake of his life”: Real Madrid star told he has made the biggest mistake of his life for joining the Los Blacos
Kylian Mbappé joined Real Madrid as a free agent this past summer transfer window. While this is a significant step in his career, one person believes it’s the wrong decision.
Moreover, he notes that it’s an easy route to securing his football glory as winning the Ballon d’Or and UEFA Champions League at PSG would have had a different meaning than winning these honors at Real Madrid.
As a result, Cyril Hanouna stated in his interview with Europe 1 that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner made a mistake leaving his hometown club.
“For me, Kylian Mbappé made the mistake of his life,” Hanouna stated (h/t Le10Sport). “I didn’t elaborate last time, but I’ll do it now. Winning the Champions League with Real Madrid is normal. Of course, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, everyone does it. All the players who are at Real Madrid, at some point, will win the Champions League.
“Being Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid is rather easy. Benzema won it at Real Madrid. Mbappé should have stayed at PSG, won the Champions League with PSG, and won the Ballon d’Or with PSG. The club was giving him everything; it would have been his club. He would have been the main man at PSG.”
PSG are a young but exciting team, and perhaps they might not have the expectations of winning the Champions League this season. However, Real Madrid has the pressure of winning the competition this campaign with the Frenchman; if they don’t, then many will consider Year 1 of Mbappé a failure.
It will be interesting to see how this tournament plays out this season as Real Madrid know who they’ll be facing in the league phase. Mbappé won’t win the Ballon d’Or this year, but winning the Champions League and playing a key role could help his chances in 2025.
Football
“A really good signing”: Alan Shearer gives his verdict on Arsenal’s unexpected signing as he backs the player become a valuable star in the team
The term ‘baptism of fire’ is often overused in football, but it rings true for Raheem Sterling when considering he could make his Arsenal debut away to Tottenham Hotspur.
For a different player, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta might decide against deploying his new signing on such an occasion, but Sterling certainly has the mental resolve to handle it.
Sterling has endured some tough times in the past for England, criticised for his performances, and he’s been subject to similar at Chelsea too.
But in north London, the 29-year-old now has a new home, and the majority of Arsenal fans are excited to see if Arteta can recapture Sterling’s best, in a similar vein to Kai Havertz.
The two are at very different stages of their career, but like just Havertz, Sterling may find his confidence once again, a player who is still in his prime years.
Alan Shearer explains why Raheem Sterling could be really ‘valuable’ to Arsenal
Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, Alan Shearer was very happy that Sterling had managed to get away from a ‘horrible’ situation at Stamford Bridge, which could have become even more messy.
And the pundit then went on to explain what Sterling can offer Arsenal, a move that suits both parties.
Shearer said: “Yeah I think it’s a really good move for him. I think it was important that he got out and played.
“It would have been horrible for him to sit there and rot in the stiffs, not even maybe, not even see first team football, never mind train or whatever with them.
“So I think it was really important for him to get out with his experience and know-how, he could be valuable to Arsenal.”
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