Paul Scholes believes Kobbie Mainoo may be “scared” to confront Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim over his lack of playing time following the manager’s high-profile handling of Alejandro Garnacho.
Mainoo, widely tipped as one of United’s brightest midfield prospects, has started on the bench for all four Premier League games so far this season. Despite injuries to Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, the 20-year-old was again a substitute for Sunday’s Manchester derby and only came on in the second half. Amorim has publicly backed Mainoo but stressed that he must “do so much better” to earn a regular place in the starting XI.
Scholes, speaking on the first episode of his new podcast The Good, The Bad and The Football alongside Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness, argued that Mainoo should be knocking on his manager’s door to demand answers. But he admitted the player might hesitate after seeing what happened to Garnacho.
Garnacho, who scored alongside Mainoo in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City, was sold to Chelsea last month after being frozen out of the first team. The winger had publicly criticised Amorim following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham and was swiftly sidelined before being moved on.
Butt added that United’s current culture allows key players to leave too easily, contrasting it with past eras when figures like David Beckham and Roy Keane only departed for clear reasons. Both legends warned that Mainoo risks stagnating unless he asserts himself, but they also acknowledged that Amorim’s firm disciplinary approach leaves little margin for dissent.
The situation underlines how Amorim’s strict management style is reshaping Old Trafford, with young stars forced to balance ambition with caution.