Kobbie Mainoo vs Ruben Amorim became the theme of Man Utd’s season before the latter’s sacking, and it’s gaining steam now that the former is getting a chance to respond.
The response from Kobbie Mainoo has been in the form of three brilliant performances to mark Michael Carrick’s start at the club.
From doing everything against City, which Ruben Amorim claimed he couldn’t, to playing like a man possessed against Fulham, Mainoo is proving with every game how wrong Amorim was to not use him.
The Mainoo revenge tour has so far been brilliant, but the next chapter is set to be the biggest one yet due to an underlying narrative.
Kobbie Mainoo will be extra motivated against Spurs
After the season he had had under Amorim, Mainoo didn’t really need any extra motivation to perform when given the chance.
That desire was visible in his electric displays against City, Arsenal, and Fulham, but the best one was in store against Spurs.
The reason is two-fold, and has as much to do with Amorim as it does with Mainoo’s own future.
The first is that Spurs were the opposition when Amorim had his worst loss as Man Utd manager, in the Europa League final.
In that game, Mainoo was subbed on in the dying minutes when the momentum was zero, and all hope was lost. It can be argued that the deteriorating relationship saw its first cracks there.
If Mainoo can lead United to a victory against Amorim’s bogey team, then it will be sweet for the player, but an even bigger narrative is the player who will line up against him on the day.
Amorim almost replaced Mainoo with Conor Gallagher
When United take the field against Spurs at Old Trafford next, Mainoo’s midfield battle will be against the very player Amorim looked forward to replacing him with.
United were willing to sell Mainoo for £40m last summer to back Amorim, and it’s not a coincidence that Gallagher moved to Spurs in January for the same fee (initial loan).
It’s an open secret that United explored a straight loan deal for Gallagher last summer. Therefore, it’s pretty simple to note that Mainoo not leaving last summer is the only thing that stopped Gallagher from joining Amorim.
Even on paper, Gallagher’s athletic profile and hard-running style of play are more suited to Amorim’s system than whatever role Amorim had pigeonholed Mainoo in.
Free of Amorim’s shackles, Mainoo will now have a chance to dominate Gallagher directly and exact the ultimate revenge on Amorim.
He can beat Amorim’s bogey team, whose shiny new midfield addition is the player Amorim wanted to replace him with.
Revenge and vindication don’t come much bigger than that.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/uRnBXZI