"He doesn’t fully understand the position" : Kobbie Mainoo slammed for wandering on the field

“He doesn’t fully understand the position” : Kobbie Mainoo slammed for wandering on the field

Graeme Souness has criticized England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo for his poor display at the 2024 Euros. The youngster made his club debut for Manchester United last season, as his fantastic performances caught the eye of the Gareth Southgate. He was included in the England squad for the marquee event, as he competed in his first ever International major tournament.

Kobbie Mainoo featured in the midfield alongside Declan Rice, as they safeguarded the defense. England managed to reach the finals of the Euros, where they were defeated in the final once again. This time, the Three Lions lost to Spain by a score-line of 2-1 as their wait for a major trophy continues.

Graeme Souness opined that Kobbie Mainoo lakes the game awareness, as he does not understand his position just yet. The former Liverpool captain was not happy with the youngster’s performances defensively, and particularly on the offensive, where he failed to create any opportunities.

“He doesn’t fully understand the position – I think he wanders. He empties the middle of the field too readily. I watched him against Iceland and he was getting thrown to the left and thrown to the right,” said Souness.

Graeme Souness criticizes Manchester United midfielder for ordinary performances

Soccer Football – Euro 2024 – Quarter Final – England v Switzerland – Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany – July 6, 2024 England’s Jude Bellingham, John Stones and Cole Palmer celebrate after winning the penalty shootout REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Graeme Souness pointed out to an error from Kobbie Mainoo during England’s first group stage match against Serbia at the Euros. The youngster was introduced from the bench to help England see out a 1-0 victory. However, the former Liverpool captain pointed out that he was chasing the goalkeeper, when the objective of the team was to hold on to the lead.

“He came on as a substitute when holding onto a 1-0 lead [against Serbia] and the first thing he did was chase down the goalkeeper and try to put him under pressure. It’s naivety,” he added.

Kobbie Mainoo was one of the finds of the season for Manchester United. He also scored in the finals of the 2024 FA Cup against Manchester City, as the Red Devils claimed the title. The 19-year-old will now take some time off, as he will join the Manchester United pre-season camp in a couple of weeks.

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