Koby Mainu has found himself constantly ignored by Ruben Amorim, but insists he is confident Manchester United’s fortunes will turn around – and it came shortly after the Portuguese manager was sacked.
When Ruben Amorim was Manchester United manager, he rarely let Koby Mainu go as a starting pitcher (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Koby Mainu has admitted he had to “consider all options” at Manchester United after being ousted by former manager Ruben Amorim, but is set to make a comeback under Michael Carrick.
Mainu has improved tremendously since he first got his chance under Erik ten Hag, scoring in the FA Cup final and playing for England at the Euros within 12 months of his debut. However, once Amorim arrived at Old Trafford, his career stalled.
The Portuguese coach used the midfielder sporadically, often leaving him on the bench. Amorim insisted he valued Maynou, but said he was only suitable for the role that United’s talisman and captain Bruno Fernandes played in his system. That ultimately limited the midfielder’s playing time and opportunities.
As a result, there were suggestions that the academy graduate might have left, which would have been a genuine benefit given that he had used the club’s system, but he remained and insisted he was confident he would return.
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He told Sky Sports: “When you get a new manager, they have their own way of doing things and if you don’t think they’re right for it, you’re not right for them either.”
The 21-year-old, who recently signed a new contract, continued: “It’s always going to be a difficult adjustment going from playing almost every game to playing less often. It’s been good for me in terms of learning about myself, the game and patience.”
“Obviously it’s difficult not to play even as a sub, but I think my family and friends helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. They just had to be patient because they knew it was going to change direction at some point.”
Koby Mainu’s turnaround under manager Michael Carrick has been remarkable (Image: Getty Images)
Mainoo insisted his long-term plans were only to play for Manchester United, but admitted he needed to consider the possibility of leaving his boyhood club.
He added: “When you don’t play too many games, or you don’t play any games, you think about everything. But what was always at the forefront of my mind was to play for Manchester United and continue to play for the club that I grew up with.”
Amorim was fired in January after months of poor performance. He stubbornly stuck to a system that only allowed him to play two midfielders, which ultimately cost him. Carrick returned to a more traditional system and named three midfielders, one of whom was Maynu.
The former United manager has previously been forced to defend his selection call-up, saying: “I understand what you’re saying. You love Covey. He’s a starter for England. But that doesn’t mean I (need to) put Coby in when I don’t feel he should. So that’s my decision.”
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