Reuben Amorim has issued a harsh warning to Cobby Mineu that if he wants regular first-team football at Manchester United, he must raise the game and show more fights. The midfielder has not started United’s Premier League matches this season and has been seeking a loan move away from Old Trafford before the transfer window was closed due to limited opportunities, but his request was made to be denied by the United hierarchy.
Mine’s struggle for game time has left him out of Thomas Tuschel’s recent England team, and the 20-year-old now feared he would be overlooked at next summer’s World Cup in the United States. And Amorim is warning Mine, who can feature in the Manchester Derby against Manchester City in the Manchester Derby this weekend due to injuries to Mason Mount and Matthew Cunya.
“I believe a lot at Cobby, but there are some who think he’s already finished (completed article),” declared Amorim. “I think he can do better, he can improve a lot. For some, that (talent) is enough, but for him it’s not enough.
“Maybe that’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Cobby. He’s going to have the opportunity like other people. If someone feels like the perfect player to play in the week, he’s going to play and I’ve already proven that to all the players here.
“So I believe in him so much. He’s a top player at the top, but he can get really good.” Mainoo scored United’s decisive goal in the 2-1 FA Cup final in Wembley’s city under Erik Ten Hag. He also began seven weeks later for England with the final defeat of Euro 2024 to Spain. Despite the rapid rise in both club and international football, Mainoo’s development has been scratched under Amorim.
The Portuguese coach challenged the Stockport-born player to prove he was wrong. “Sometimes that’s the coach’s opinion,” Amorim said. “I remember Vitanya wasn’t playing for the wolves. Today you know that Vitanya is the best midfielder in the world.
“The way I play is completely different from my last manager. I watched a lot of Premier League games when I was in Portugal.
“Cobby was the only guy who calmed down the game. Now there are other players who can calm the game down. We’re playing another game.
“I know he started the European Championship final with a team with a lot of talented players. Phil Foden played in that game. Cole Palmer was on the bench and Cobby was playing.
“Cobby is really good at controlling the game, but if he plays as eight, he has to get back after he reaches the box.
“Bruno has been a more influential player in the last few years and he’s played in that position. Cobby has been able to play as six (a defensive midfielder), but sometimes he passes the ball and disappears, so everything needs to be balanced.
“He has technical capabilities, but he needs more pace. He needs to understand his position better. He needs to play at different speeds, and sometimes it can be slower.
“Then he has to defeat Bruno. He has to defeat Casemiro. He has to defeat Manuel Ugarte. They are good players too, so I need to choose.”
