Erik ten Hag has revealed the first time he saw Kobbie Mainoo as an academy player for Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo struck a superb winner nine minutes into stoppage time at Molineux after Wolves, through Pedro Neto, battled back to make it 3-3.
After all the chances Manchester United had to put the game to bed, they were punished and Rasmus Hojlund’s dumbfounded expression said it all as it looked set to be another week of misery and discussions about Erik ten Hag’s future at the club.
However, Mainoo’s brilliance and show of composure, from a player so young, won United the game and Ten Hag explained the moment he discovered the talents of the teenager.
Ten Hag on Mainoo
Speaking in the aftermath of the crazy 4-3 win for United against the Midlands side, Ten Hag was asked for his first memories of the teenager and what he was like in academy football.
“I think very quickly I saw him,” Ten Hag said, as per the MEN. “I think last autumn I saw him for the first time and at that moment I thought he was playing a little bit too comfortable. I saw him playing in the U21s, he should be much more dominant.
“We pushed him a lot on that side, by pushing him in the training and you see he makes such good progress and he is almost progressing from game to game.
“And of course, it’s wonderful to see and I hope he stays calm like he is, as he did with his goal as well. He is determined, he is a good character and I hope he keeps going with this progress.”
Mainoo’s progress
The teenage midfielder is playing so well for the Red Devils that you wonder if a new defensive midfielder will be targeted at all by United in the summer or will they trust the Englishman to play that role.
With the European Championships in the summer, you wonder if there is now an outside chance that the teenager could be called up by Gareth Southgate.
He is going from strength to strength and last night’s victory at Molineux shows the immense attacking talent he has, which hasn’t really been seen as of yet.