Amorim defiant in proving he trusts the academy and points to Mainoo despite not giving him enough minutes.
Ruben Amorim has rejected suggestions that he lacks faith in Manchester United’s academy, highlighting his inclusion of Kobbie Mainoo in the matchday squad as evidence.
Mainoo, a 20-year-old midfielder who has been with United since the age of six, was an unused substitute in Thursday’s 1-1 home draw against West Ham. This season, he has featured 10 times but started only once — against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.
Asked whether he trusted the academy, Amorim responded: “Why ask? We have Kobbie Mainoo.” On Mainoo’s frustration at not playing, he added: “I see it, I see it, and I just want to win. I don’t look at who it is, I just try to put the best players on the pitch. You have Manuel Ugarte, who has played two league games, one when Casemiro was out. Bruno Fernandes is always fit, and he plays in Mainoo’s position, so maybe that explains it.”
He said: “When Bryan [Mbeumo] is not there I put Amad [Diallo] because I have other wingbacks to play and sometimes it’s hard. You are asking me why don’t I put Lacey to play when I have other guys that are internationals and they are also on the bench, so I try to put the best-prepared guys for this moment.”
The Cup of Nations begins on 21 December in Morocco but Amorim said he did not know when Diallo and Mbeumo would depart for the tournament. “They are going to play the next game and that is the only thing I care about,” he said, looking to Monday’s game at home to Wolves. The mandatory release date is 15 December, when United play at home to Bournemouth.