Shadows Loom Over Villa vs. Man Utd Fixture | OneFootball

“It was not Kobbie that wore the t-shirt,” Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said on the decision from Kobbie Mainoo’s brother to wear an ever so slightly provocative t-shirt with the phrase “free Kobbie Mainoo” branded across the front. Mainoo has found his game time limited this season, having not yet started a Premier League game for the Red Devils.

His brother’s antics during the game against Bournemouth have failed to convince Amorim to afford more opportunity to the 20-year-old, but to the relief of the United academy graduate, it will not be held against him either.

The aforementioned shirt. Source: OneFootball on X

“He is not going to start because of the t-shirt or go to the bench because of it,” the United boss continued. “He is going to play if he is the right player to play. I am not going to do something to Kobbie because someone in his family is doing something.”

The Case for Mainoo

Mainoo’s case is an interesting one. He has gone from scoring in an FA Cup final for United and starting for England at the Euros to becoming a bit part player at his club. That picture of United’s young stars Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund celebrating together back in February 2024 during a win over West Ham seems a long time ago now.

Two of them are no longer at the club, while Mainoo’s future is looking increasingly likely to be away from Old Trafford. Amid all United’s struggles at that time, the picture of those three together gave fans hope for the future, that things would improve.

It is instead yet another sign of the constant change at the club that while United have undoubtedly improved this season, they have done so having once again gone in a very different direction under Amorim.

Mainoo’s lack of involvement has not been the only talking point either. Youngsters Harry Amass and Chido Obi posted, and then deleted, pictures on social media highlighting their achievements after Amorim suggested last week that they were not performing well. Asked about those posts, Amorim then suggested there was a “feeling of entitlement” among players at the club.

Amorim’s Thoughts

“Nowadays, they [players] speak and go against the club because they feel entitled,” he said. “Then, we have legends of the club saying ‘if you don’t play, leave, because everyone is wrong’. No. Let’s stay. Let’s fight. Let’s overcome. The door to my office is open. That is the way we can solve things [but] nobody is coming to talk to me.

“I am the first to say I am failing this club inside the pitch but outside I guarantee I am not failing this club. I understand everything, it is the environment of the players, the kids, they feel free to reply to the manager with a picture.”

Whether it be his much discussed 3-4-3 system or his decision not to play Mainoo as regularly as most would have expected, Amorim has been steadfast and uncompromising in his belief about how to get United back to the top.

The Challenge

But they face an opponent this Sunday in Aston Villa who, on current form, look far more likely to challenge at the top this season. Unai Emery’s side would make it ten wins in a row in all competitions by beating the Red Devils and go into the weekend only three points behind league leaders Arsenal.