Manchester United ‘must drop’ star player due to tactical deficiencies, says club legend

Erik ten Hag has been told that he must drop Kobbie Mainoo in order to secure his development at Manchester United.

Kobbie Mainoo has been a breath of fresh air at Manchester United in the last few months, with the 18-year-old showing just how capable he is in a senior set-up.

Great performances in the Premier League and FA Cup have seen him become a regular name in Erik ten Hag‘s XI, with the player having started the last five games in a row for his club.

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Despite Mainoo becoming somewhat of a star player, United legend Paul Ince believes that Kobbie Mainoo must be dropped from being a consistent name in the starting XI both due to a tactical deficiency of the midfielder becoming overrun and that Mainoo’s development needs to be managed.

“When I look at the midfield, I don’t see a lot of pace. When teams attack them, they are so open in the middle of the park and don’t have a natural sitter,” Ince explained to The Express.

“There’s a lot of technical ability, but I don’t see the pace or the understanding of a defensive midfield player.

“[Ten Hag] has tweaked around it, and Mainoo has come in looking like a really good prospect, but they have to be careful with him. They need to take him in and out.”

He added: “He [Mainoo] needs to listen and learn, cling on to the right people. Suddenly, a young kid plays a couple of games, and everyone gets really excited. Next thing, he’s out on the town with his mates. That stuff you can’t do.

“[Assistant coaches] Steve McClaren and Darren Fletcher, they are the ones to keep his feet on the ground and make sure he hangs around with the right people.

“He’s only 18 and we have this habit at the moment of getting overexcited about people right away. Give him time. Let him play, let him enjoy his football and take him in and out.”