Chido Obi: United coaches delighted with key improvement | OneFootball

When Ruben Amorim was named as Manchester United’s head coach to replace Erik ten Hag, many pointed to his immaculate work with youngsters as a reason why INEOS picked him ahead of other candidates.

And his penchant for trusting youth was on display in his debut season, with the likes of Harry Amass, Chido Obi, and Tyler Fredricson all earning their senior debuts.

However, this approach unravelled this term, as none of the youngsters was given further opportunities, and his public criticism of the club’s renowned academy caught the United board off guard.

Chido Obi, regarded as one of the brightest young strikers at academy level, was clearly disappointed by the snub, and Amorim’s harsh words prompted him to respond on social media.

Chido Obi had his finest game vs City U18s

But United coaches felt the demotion served the young Dane well, giving him the chance to work on his craft away from the pressures of first-team football.

And the hard work paid dividends in the recent U18 Manchester derby, with the former Arsenal ace grabbing a well-deserved goal while working his socks off without the ball.

To excel in a competitive first-team environment in the modern game, off-the-ball is seen as a non-negotiable and the 18-year-old had one of his best games in that regard.

“Manchester United are happy with Chido Obi’s development in the academy this season. Obi scored his ninth goal of the campaign for the Under-18s in a 3-1 win against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Carrick to benefit from key improvement

“Obi impressed during the game with his out-of-possession work. It’s understood that staff were delighted with Obi’s display and believed his off-the-ball work was some of his finest of the season.

25/26 season stats via Transfermarkt

“United staff have been keen to allow Obi to continue learning in academy games. There have been fewer first-team matches due to early cup exits, and Obi has benefited from that decision.”

The Denmark U20 international has nine goals and four assists in all competitions across all age-groups this season.

Amorim might have snubbed him, but Michael Carrick could be the one to benefit as Chido Obi adds more layers to his game.

With Joshua Zirkzee not exactly firing on all cylinders and Benjamin Sesko without a recognised backup, hopefully, Chido Obi can add to his eight senior caps later in the season.

Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images

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