"A trophy brings hope, but it definitely didn’t make the season a success" - Kobbie Mainoo on Manchester United's FA Cup win last season
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has admitted that their FA Cup win did not make the last season a success for the club. He, however, acknowledged the trophy changed the mood in the dressing room and that the players needed that boost.
Speaking to GQ Magazine, Mainoo stated that the trophy brought hope to the squad that had finished eighth in the Premier League. He said:
"I remember just the feeling around it was like, no one expects us to win. They've just written us off. I used that as motivation. I won't say it made the season a success for us as a team, but we definitely needed it. We couldn't go into the summer with nothing, just finishing where we finished in the table. A trophy brings hope. But it definitely didn't make the season a success."
Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner in the final against Manchester City. Alejandro Garnacho scored the opening goal for Manchester United, and Jeremy Doku pulled one back late in the match for Pep Guardiola's side.
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo on looking up to former players
Kobbie Mainoo has admitted that he looks up to Sergio Busquets, Yaya Youre, and Luka Modric while also naming Clarence Seedorf – a player he has been compared with by pundits. The Manchester United youngster stated that he liked how they read the game.
He said:
"I like to watch Busquets, the way he used to turn. Players like Seedorf, Modric. Players like Yaya Touré – I like the way he used to play."
The youngster added that he did not think much about passing the ball backward or playing safe. He liked the forward-thinking moves and said:
"I don't think about it too much. It's more an in-the-moment type of thing. Like if I check – his head owl-pivots over his left shoulder to demonstrate – I see a guy here, then I'll turn this way. Or if I don't have to do that, I can just bounce out. I don't think, like, I'm gonna turn here… it's more that if the defender gives me an option, then I'm gonna take it."
Kobbie Mainoo has played 44 matches for Manchester United since making his debut for the senior side. He has scored five goals in his time with the first-team, while assisting once.