Manchester United have endured a difficult season but throughout, there has been a beacon of hope for the future.
Amid all the injuries, questionable tactics, incomprehensible results and broken dreams, Manchester United fans do have reason to be positive in 2023/24.
The academy at Carrington has produced a handful of top talents stepping up to the first team, and these players have been among the best players.
Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and now Willy Kambwala are showing their qualities, with all three starting in the draw with Liverpool yesterday at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo denied spectacular winner
Kobbie Mainoo gave Manchester United the lead against Liverpool with a curling effort in the second half to put his side 2-1 up.
Mainoo had played a key role in the build-up to the goal, carrying the ball upfield to lead a counter-attack, and finished it off with aplomb.
MUTV pundit Danny Simpson talked up Mainoo’s performance on the channel’s Matchday Review.
He said: “I’m running out of words. He’s got everything hasn’t he. To execute that finish in that corner, in this fixture in that moment, for his age is fantastic.
“I’m just gutted for him, it wasn’t the winner, which would have been a lot more sweeter.
“He’s showing everyone week in, week out, my game is getting stronger, we’ve got an absolute top talent on our hands.”
Mainoo numbers v Liverpool
Kobbie Mainoo made three successful tackles against Liverpool, the joint highest among all players on the pitch during his 84 minutes.
The problem he faced was not getting on the ball enough, with Liverpool dominant in possession with 62 per cent.
This saw Mainoo make only 14 of 18 passes attempted, a very low number. Yet despite this, he was able to positively influence the game, with two successful dribbles, in addition to his memorable goal.
Speaking to the BBC, Mainoo commented: “When Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave me the ball I thought the keeper wouldn’t think I would shoot so I laid it off and it felt good – luckily it went in.”
Mainoo almost joined an illustrious list of heroes to score winning goals against Liverpool, although there is plenty of opportunity for him to do so during his career.
He expressed frustration with the result, adding: “To not come away with three points is tough to take.
“Again penalties have cost us, but we have to keep on working ironing out these details that keep costing us and keep trying to get better.”