Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrating after his team won another trophy, his second for the club.
When Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United beat Newcastle in the 2023 Carabao Cup final, the manager was seen speaking to academy prospect Kobbie Mainoo in the aftermath.
Mainoo, who had played only three first team matches at the time, was not part of the matchday squad, but Erik ten Hag made a point to single him out.
Speaking about the special moment in the run-up to this year’s FA Cup Final, Mainoo revealed that Ten Hag promised him he would soon be enjoying his big occasion in the spotlight.
Even Ten Hag, though, would probably not dared dream it would turn out quite this perfectly.
Kobbie Mainoo man of the match
Kobbie Mainoo scored Manchester United’s second goal to put the team 2-0 up against City at Wembley. It turned out to be the winner, with Pep Guardiola’s side pulling a goal back in the second half.
Mainoo was voted as the official man of the match, producing a superb display on and off the ball, completing the full 90 minutes.
It was a final which may be remembered as ‘the Mainoo final’, such was the dream impact the 19-year-old made on the game.
Erik ten Hag on Kobbie Mainoo
Speaking to United club media, manager Erik ten Hag declared he was thrilled by the contribution of the young midfielder.
He said: “It was really incredible to watch Kobbie at his age.”
He added: “I think we have to keep it calm because here in England we do so much in pushing young players high and then hammer them when they have one or two bad performances.”
Ten Hag also praised Sofyan Amrabat in an interview with ESPN: “We dominated midfield, the two of them. Sofyan Amrabat was fantastic.”
Club captain Fernandes backed his manager’s comments, adding: “Kobbie Mainoo is really good, such a quality player and you can see the composure he had with the finish.
“He came through the academy and [today] once more on the biggest stage in the world, he showed it again.”
Mainoo, and Alejandro Garnacho, became the youngest players to score in the FA Cup final since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.