“The biggest compliment…” Man United star praised for ‘difficult’ moment before Brentford embarrassment

One Manchester United star was praised by Jamie Redknapp before their embarrassing Premier League draw against Brentford on Saturday evening.

The Reds were on hand yet again to bring United supporters right back down to earth after an exciting game against Liverpool before the international break.

Erik ten Hag’s side offered almost nothing in their visit to Brentford and deserved to lose the game that they ended up drawing.

Kobbie Mainoo played 80 minutes and was one of United’s better players following his England debut and Man of the Match performance last week.

The teenage midfielder did look jaded in the middle at times after missing training ahead of the game with illness. He lost several duels but still looked assured and comfortable in possession.

Mainoo’s development this season has often been spoken about more highly due to the circumstances he comes into at Old Trafford, with the overall team underperforming, and it was the same again on Saturday.

Before the game kicked off, the teenager’s form and rise came up in discussion on Sky Sports, with presenter Kelly Cates and former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp discussing the difficulties that Mainoo has faced at United.

Redknapp, who also highlighted the poor performance of Marcus Rashford after the game, stated that Mainoo has had a tougher introduction to Premier League life than the likes of Phil Foden of Manchester City due to the team he has come into.

“There have been bright moments for Manchester United, but it’s not like coming into the great Manchester United side. This is the Manchester United side that will face challenges as well, Jamie,” said Cates of the young talent.

Redknapp responded: “It’s more difficult. When you come into a team that’s playing well, you’ve got the Man City team as an example, with a young player like Phil Foden, that’s not as difficult. Because you’re playing with great players, you’re winning games.

“He’s [Mainoo] having to take games by the scruff of the neck at 18 years of age. He’s played 20 games for Man United. The biggest compliment I could give him, it looks like he’s played 300. He’s that calm; he’s that cool.

“Even for England in midweek, the crowd love him. He’s a superstar in the making. He’s got to keep his head down, keep working hard, doing all the things that he’s done to get him where he is right now, and keep playing at that level. He’s a superstar.”

Whilst Mainoo’s performance, like every other United player, will be one to forget, the overarching point made by the punditry team is a correct one.