Ian Wright Brands Ruben Amorim's Mainoo Treatment 'Very Embarrassing'
Arsenal legend and prominent football pundit Ian Wright has delivered a scathing assessment of former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim's handling of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. Wright declared that Amorim should feel "very embarrassed" about his treatment of the academy graduate, who has flourished since the Portuguese coach's dismissal.
Mainoo's Frustrating Spell Under Amorim
During Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford, Kobbie Mainoo found himself largely sidelined, starting just one match this season. That solitary appearance came in a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat away to Grimsby Town. The 20-year-old midfielder became so disillusioned with his prospects at Manchester United that he had reportedly arranged a loan move to Serie A giants Napoli for the remainder of the campaign.
The situation grew so tense that Mainoo's brother wore a shirt in the Old Trafford stands bearing the message: 'Free Kobbie Mainoo.' Despite this visible protest and mounting fan pressure, Amorim consistently defended his decision to bench the England international, insisting he would only select players he believed gave United the best chance to win.
Dramatic Turnaround Under Interim Management
Since Michael Carrick arrived as interim boss following Amorim's sacking, Mainoo's fortunes have transformed dramatically. The midfielder has started all four matches under Carrick's stewardship – victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, and Tottenham – playing the full ninety minutes in each encounter.
Mainoo's performance in United's 2-0 victory over Tottenham particularly caught the eye, with the young midfielder providing a smart assist for Bryan Mbeumo's opening goal while controlling the centre of the pitch alongside Casemiro. This resurgence has seen him return to the form that originally earned him an England call-up for the European Championships at just eighteen years old.
Wright's Blunt Assessment on Premier League World
Appearing as a pundit on Saturday's Premier League World show following United's victory over Spurs, Ian Wright pulled no punches in his criticism of Amorim's management. "Everybody was confused with what was happening under Ruben Amorim," the Arsenal legend explained.
"When you look at Mainoo, someone who's not played, coming into a Man United side that's not in great form. To play in that midfield where all the questions have been around... just the quality," Wright continued. "You're listening to Bruno Fernandes saying they've been given the freedom to express themselves because they're good players. And Kobbie is a very, very good player. I'm just pleased we're seeing that now."
Wright concluded his assessment with a direct jab at the departed manager: "I think it's very embarrassing for Ruben Amorim if we're going to be totally honest. Because what we saw was a Man United youth product not given the opportunity to play and very, very close to leaving the club."
Carrick's Cautious Praise for Mainoo
While interim manager Michael Carrick has heaped praise on Mainoo's performances since restoring him to the starting lineup, he has also been careful to manage expectations surrounding the young midfielder. "There's no doubt about Kobbie's ability or what he can bring," Carrick stated after the Tottenham victory.
"He's still so young, so let's be careful of putting so much on his shoulders, and expecting so much from him," the United boss cautioned. "I think he's still learning the game but because he's had a big high and then didn't play for a bit, it's easy to think he's a lot older and more experienced probably than he is. Credit to him, he came right in and found his rhythm of football, which is not easy after a period of time off."
Mainoo has collected two assists in his four starts under Carrick, demonstrating the creative influence that had been largely absent during Amorim's final months in charge. The midfielder's dramatic turnaround serves as a stark contrast to his previous situation and validates Wright's criticism of the former manager's handling of one of United's most promising academy products.
