'More freedom' - Ruben Amorim explains new role for 8/10 Manchester United star in FCSB win
Man Utd defeated FCSB 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night to book their place in the last-16.
Ruben Amorim believes Kobbie Mainoo had ‘more freedom’ playing as one of the two attacking midfielders in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over FCSB on Thursday night.
The 19-year-old was United’s best player on the night, grabbing both a goal and an assist as they secured a third-place finish in the Europa League and booked a place in the last-16 of the competition.
Mainoo had previously struggled to pin down a role in Amorim’s new 3-4-2-1 formation as one of the two central midfielders but showed his undisputed quality with his impressive individual display further up the pitch. The teenager finished with 100 percent cross completion, 100 percent long pass accuracy, 94 percent pass accuracy, completed all three of the tackles he attempted and created two chances.
“Kobbie Mainoo played in a different position with more freedom, closer to the box, he can change the game there. I can understand my players better. I put Kobbie Mainoo in that position, we need time to understand the players as he was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder. As a 10 he was so free playing the ball near the box. Sometimes he's always worrying about the recovery, trying to defend, and I know that he is trying. Today I felt Kobbie was enjoying the game more and I am really happy for that."
"I think Kobbie in that position played very well. More freedom with not so much responsibility running back all the time. I think the lads did a good job, clean sheet again, create some chances. We have to score more goals. In the end, we made some rotation, we took two games from the schedule. It was a good day for us."
Who could United play in the last 16?
United’s third-place finish means they will face one of the teams who finished in 13th, 14th 19th and 20th in the initial league phase of the competition. The potential opponents will be narrowed down to just two teams when when the Europa League knockout phase play-off draw takes place from 12pm GMT on Friday 31 January. It means they will take on one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland.
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