Erik ten Hag correctly predicted what would happen to Kobbie Mainoo (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag’s deadly accurate warning over heaping too much praise on Manchester United and England wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo has gone viral.
Mainoo has just enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season at Old Trafford, earning a spot in United’s first-team and making England’s squad for Euro 2024.
The 19-year-old star has been widely lauded for his performances which have drawn comparisons to legendary footballers Paul Scholes and Clarence Seedorf.
Mainoo is hoping to continue his rapid rise at Euro 2024 this summer but the midfielder faced criticism after England lost 1-0 to Iceland on Friday night.
‘Does Mainoo possess the defensive discipline to play the ‘no 6’ role?’ The Telegraph asked on X after the match.
The Guardian rated his performance just four out of 10, insisting that the teenager lacked ‘physicality and nous’.
Some fans have also slammed Mainoo’s performance on social media with @mikeblackphoto posting on X: ‘Poor goal for England to concede, Mainoo was too slow seeing the danger.’
Kobbie Mainoo faced criticism after England lost to Iceland (Picture: Getty)
‘Kobbie Mainoo’s defensive awareness as a midfielder is very poor,’ @CFC_Neymar10 added.
‘I don’t understand this thing with United fans, it seems you can’t criticise Mainoo for anything,’ @ihvmid said.
‘He was poor today, lack of positional awareness. It will improve him, stop this BS.’
The reaction towards Mainoo from some areas of the media and several fans has led the majority of supporters to dig up Ten Hag’s post-match interview from the last month’s FA Cup final after United beat Manchester City at Wembley.
In the viral clip, Ten Hag is asked about Mainoo’s path to stardom and said: ‘I think we have to keep it calm.
‘In England you are very good at pushing players very high and then you will hammer them after one or two bad performances.’
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