Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel dropped a powerful assessment on what he saw from out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo against Brentford on Saturday.
Kobbie Mainoo has featured in four Premier League appearances for Manchester United this season and all four of his performances have come from the bench.
The 20-year-old midfielder has only made one start for his side in the 2025-26 season, which came in United’s shock defeat to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
Brentford hosted United for their Premier League clash at the Gtech Community Stadium on the weekend and the Red Devils suffered a 3-1 defeat on the day.
Ruben Amorim turned to his bench in the second half when United were trailing Brentford 2-1 and brought Mainoo onto the pitch in Saturday’s league defeat.
What John Obi Mikel saw from England star Kobbie Mainoo in Man Utd’s 3-1 Premier League defeat to Brentford
Harry Maguire was subbed off in the 66th minute for Kobbie Mainoo, who had very little impact for Manchester United against Brentford in the Premier League tie.
Mainoo has not scored in any of his five appearances across all competitions this season and his only assist came in United’s penalty shootout loss to Grimsby Town.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, John Obi Mikel said that he could not believe his eyes at how the England international appeared a “shadow” of his former self.
The 38-year-old Chelsea legend added that Mainoo “looked like” he didn’t know what to do when he came off the bench at the Gtech Community Stadium.
“And again, I watched this kid, Kobbie Mainoo. My word,” Mikel explained.
“What has happened to Kobbie Mainoo? What has happened to that kid? What has happened to that kid? Doesn’t fancy him. I watched him when he came on the pitch.
“[He is] a shadow of who he was when he burst into the scene. A shadow of who he was, Kobbie Mainoo. Was at fault for the second goal or [the] third goal.
“He looked heavy. He looked like he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Kobbie Mainoo.”
John Obi Mikel’s damning verdict on Ruben Amorim after Kobbie Mainoo’s Man Utd performance in the Brentford defeat
Mainoo lost his place in the Red Devils starting XI under United manager Ruben Amorim, who has been playing Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role this season.
The Stockport-born midfielder reportedly expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford before the summer window closed after being starved of United first-team minutes.
Mikel dropped a scathing assessment of Mainoo’s situation by suggesting his performance was a by-product of Amorim’s handling of the England midfielder.
“And when the manager doesn’t believe in you, when the manager doesn’t have the belief and trust you, that happens,” he added.
Mainoo is under contract with United until 2027 and the Three Lions star missed England’s World Cup qualifiers in September after he was left out of the squad.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/kb4uDie