Schweinsteiger advises Amorim how he has to use ‘very intelligent’ Red to see him flourish in new setup

Stretty News

·29 de abril de 2025

Schweinsteiger advises Amorim how he has to use ‘very intelligent’ Red to see him flourish in new setup

Bastian Schweinsteiger has advised Ruben Amorim how to play to Kobbie Mainoo’s strengths – whilst simultaneously pouring praise on the Manchester United starlet.

It’s been something of a stop-start season for Mainoo, not only because he’s had to endure two spells on the sidelines with injury setbacks, but also due to Amorim fretting over where best to use him after implementing his new system.

Vídeos OneFootball

The young midfielder has been deployed defensively in front of the backline, as well as further afield as a No.10. For United’s defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford back in February, Mainoo was fielded as the sole striker.

In his first game playing in the No.10 role, he stole the show, scoring once and assisting once in a 2-0 Europa League win over FCSB. Amorim would’ve been adamant to see him build on such a stellar display, but Mainoo proceeded to suffer an injury layoff, which kept him out of action for two months.

Mainoo isn’t guaranteed a starting spot under Amorim

(Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Mainoo has played 21 times since Amorim took the reins last November. Surprisingly, only 13 of those appearances have come from the off, following a season in which he cemented a starting role under Erik ten Hag after his meteoric breakthrough into the first team.

He came in clutch with a vital goal during United’s Europa League quarter-final second leg at home to Olympique Lyonnais, coming off the bench in extra-time to draw the Reds level in the 120th minute – before Harry Maguire lifted the roof off of Old Trafford when he stole the win just a minute later.

You’d expect Mainoo, who’s started the last two Premier League matches, will be given the nod for Thursday’s semi-final first leg away to Athletic Bilbao – and Schweinsteiger believes he knows exactly how to get the best out of the Carrington graduate.

“I like Kobbie Mainoo very much,” said the German legend after listing some of his favourite midfielders, as cited by UtdDistrict. “I think his best position in an Amorim team is as a number eight; he’s a very intelligent player with the capabilities to push forward. So yeah, I think the number eight role would be the best one for him.”