Denmark’s Under-21s head coach has revealed two of the things Chido Obi has been working on in Manchester United training to improve his game.
Manchester United made the impressive signing of Chido Obi in the summer of 2024, with the impressive young striker joining from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The teenager immediately impressed in the Under-18s at United and was given his first-team debut later in the season, partly due to injuries across Ruben Amorim’s side.
Obi made seven further appearances for United before the season’s end but he has now returned to playing Academy football for this season, with the 17-year-old leading the line for the Under-21s.
Despite being a natural goalscorer, Obi is working on his game to improve difference aspects so that he can thrive in the first-team environment in the future.
Coach reveals Obi ‘is working on’ improving two specific attributes
Obi has not been included in the latest Denmark Under-21s squad for the upcoming international break. The head coach, Lars Knudse, has discussed Obi and explained how he is working on improving his game at Carrington.
It is unclear whether United requested for Obi to stay at the club for the international break, but Knudse explained how the youngster is looking to improve his team-related work and also to add more variety to his finishing ability.
“Chido is at United right now and working on some things purely sportingly that he needs to put into his game. He sometimes starts in the U21 team. We have a close dialogue both with Chido and with the club about where he is in terms of development,” the Denmark U21s boss told Tipsbladet.
“We follow him closely and we watch all his minutes, and we also do the same with all the other players we have in the squad and around the team.”
Asked what aspects United are working on, Knudsen said: “Among other things, he needs to participate a little more in some team-related things. He is a good goalscorer, but he could also score many specific types of goals.
“And there may also be some other types of goals that he needs to become good at scoring. So there are some different things he needs to put into his game. He clearly has some top skills and he has exciting potential, there is no doubt about that.”
Obi needed U21s for development
Those who have not paid close attention to Obi might think that he is taking a step back this season in the Under-21s but it is important for his development.
Last term, the striker played just four games at that level as he was often needed on the first-team bench. He hadn’t had enough time at the PL2 level, where defences are much more solid than at Under-18s level.
Obi could tower over defenders with the Under-18s and score goals by simply breezing past the opposition. Moving up to the Under-21s was a needed move for his development which was essentially skipped last term.
He is still a very exciting young striker and will be hoping that his hard work behind the scenes pays off on the pitch.
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