Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has urged Kobbie Mainoo to refuse to play in England's third-place World Cup match against France, claiming the 21-year-old midfielder has been mistreated by manager Thomas Tuchel. Mainoo, who has 14 international caps, has not featured in any of England's seven matches in the tournament, making him one of only two outfield players unused.
Butt's advice to Mainoo
Speaking ahead of Saturday's match, Butt said: "I do not know what is going on there, there's something not quite right with it. Now they're going to play the bomb squad in the stupid third-place game. I'd just refuse to play if I was Kobbie Mainoo. I'd say I was injured. It's a nonsense game, especially when you've been treated like that." He added: "He's not played a minute of football, now to go and start this pointless jumped-up friendly and potentially get injured for the whole season... no."
Tuchel's future questioned
Butt also called for Tuchel to be sacked after England's semi-final exit to Argentina, criticising the German's negative tactics. "There's no way he [Tuchel] can stay on. Not a cat in hell's chance after that," Butt said. "If he stays on, John McDermott [the FA's technical director] needs to be sacked as well." He suggested Tuchel's nationality could work against him: "People will go against him because he's German as well, so he's going to have a nightmare."
Potential replacements
Butt named Newcastle's Eddie Howe and former Tottenham and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino as candidates. He said Pochettino's strong relationship with McDermott, dating back to their time at Tottenham, makes him a viable option. However, he ruled out Pep Guardiola, who recently left Manchester City citing a need for rest. "Pep can't leave Man City a month ago, saying he needs a rest from football, and then go straight back in," Butt explained.
