One Manchester United player is earning rave reviews for his performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
The Red Devils went into the game as the underdogs. Nobody really gave them a chance, but Erik ten Hag‘s side picked up a deserved win to lift the FA Cup.
A number of Manchester United players deserve praise for their performance on the day, but Shearer was blown away by one particular youngster for what he did to Erling Haaland.
Alan Shearer raves about what Kobbie Mainoo did to Erling Haaland
Kobbie Mainoo was the star of the show for Manchester United at Wembley.
The teenager had a brilliant 2023/24 campaign. He had already produced a number of spectacular performances, but what he did against the best team in the world at Wembley was beyond impressive.
Mainoo started in the middle of the park, and he was the standout player among superstars like Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri.
He was comfortably the better player on the day, and he even got on the score sheet to help his side pick up a memorable victory.
Alan Shearer was on co-commentary duty at Wembley, and he had to decide the winner of the Player of the Match award.
The Premier League legend picked Mainoo without any hesitation, and he has now revealed a key reason why the youngster was his choice for the award.
Shearer claimed that he loved how Mainoo went ‘body-to-body’ against Erling Haaland, who’s much bigger than him, and still held his own.
He said on The Rest is Football podcast: “When you consider he’s up against someone who we consider the best in the world, Rodri; Kevin De Bruyne, one of the best in the world; Foden, one of the best in the world; Kovacic, his experience is like incredible…
“So he’s up against all of these players in the middle of midfield and yet, he’s the one that shines, as a 19-year-old.
“As important as his goal was, as important as his passing was, as important as his tackling was, one of the most important things for me was when he went body-to-body with Erling Haaland from a corner, I think it was, and he stood his ground and he was strong as and he didn’t allow Haaland…
“I just thought: “Yeah, I love that’.
“That, for me, I thought, on top of all the other things, I’m giving you the Man of the Match just for that as well as the rest.”
READ MORE: Gary Lineker says Kobbie Mainoo is starting to remind him of a Real Madrid superstar
Kobbie Mainoo outshines England teammate and could take his place
England manager Gareth Southgate has a bit of a headache regarding his midfield for the Euros.
The Three Lions have Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham as guaranteed starters in the middle of the park, but with Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips out of the picture, there’s a spot open for someone else.
Many feel Bellingham should be brought back to a number eight role with Phil Foden starting as the attacking midfielder at the Euros.
However, Kobbie Mainoo’s magnificent performance against Manchester City, where he was levels above Foden, shows that he is good enough to start for England as well.
Southgate was at Wembley for the final and he would’ve watched Mainoo’s display. We think his chances of starting for England at the Euros would’ve received a huge boost.