Ruben Amorim has defended his team selections amid criticism over Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of football for Manchester United.
Mainoo has played just 171 minutes of Premier League football this season and is yet to start a league game for the club in 2025/26.
The 20-year-old’s lack of football has halted a meteoric rise that saw Mainoo emerge as one of the Premier League’s breakout players in 2023/24.
His performances that season saw Mainoo break into the England side, and he featured prominently as the Three Lions reached the final of Euro 2024.
However, he’s failed to win a regular role at club level since Amorim’s arrival in November last year. Mainoo was denied a loan move in the summer after expressing interest in a temporary exit.
Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wolves, Amorim was asked about Mainoo’s frustration and his continued absence from the team.
“I see it. I just want to win. I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that – I just try to put the best players on the pitch. You have [Manuel] Ugarte that played two games. One of them, Casemiro was out. Bruno [Fernandes] is always fit- he’s the guy that is playing in his position so maybe it has [something] to do with that.
“Of course, I understand (why reporters ask about Mainoo). My job is to answer but I am trying to answer always the same thing. And you ask me always the same thing.
“I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie when I feel I shouldn’t put Kobbie.”
Read – Talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend
See more – England’s best and worst-case groups ahead of 2026 World Cup draw