Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic compares Kobbie Mainoo to Real Madrid striker
Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic was full of praise for Kobbie Mainoo after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with rivals Liverpool. The 18-year-old has been getting plenty of plaudits this season and now he has been compared with Real Madrid maestro Luka Modric.
After Bruno Fernandes’ stunning equaliser to wipe out Luis Diaz’s opener, United turned the game around when Mainoo found the back of the net with a superb curling finish. It was his first-ever senior goal at Old Trafford to make it even more special.
Mainoo has shined in what has been a difficult season for United as a collective. He continues to go from strength to strength after starting each of the Reds’ last 15 league matches. As a result, the academy graduate is in the frame to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024, especially after making his Three Lions debut against Brazil in March.
Speaking about the talented youngster for Premier League Productions at the weekend, Vidic was particularly impressed with Mainoo’s ability to sense what is around him on the pitch and be productive with the ball (via Manchester Evening News): “Mainoo has been fantastic, especially his awareness in these areas. He reminds me sometimes of Modric.
“He always feels who is behind him. You can see, he took the first touch, straight away moved to the side, then it was a great strike. He’s difficult to defend against.”
Former United team-mate Wayne Rooney was in agreement, adding: “Yes he is [more than a holding midfielder]. I watched him play against Nottingham Forest as well. He played a little higher, so he can certainly do that. When he got the ball he drove at the Liverpool backline. Great first touch and the finish is incredible.”
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If there’s one former player who would’ve relished the opportunity to get stuck into the Liverpool squad and dampen their manager’s farewell tour in the process, it’s Nemanja Vidic.
The Manchester United hero, who won five league titles across his illustrious Old Trafford career, joined Premier League productions in analysing the rivals’ clash on Sunday evening.
Of course, both sides were made to settle for a point apiece by the full-time whistle. Liverpool scored the first and final goals of the game, but it was two moments of magic in between from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo that had United just moments away from inflicting a serious title upset.
The team can, however, take solace in the fact that the result will – and already has – had substantial ramifications on the race for this season’s top spot; the Merseyside outfit entered the fixture in first place but dropped to second after the spoils were shared.
Vidic rues defending for Liverpool opener
Vidic highlighted one passage of play that should’ve been defended significantly better, and it came during the corner which ultimately led to Luis Diaz’s opener.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was beaten to the initial header by Darwin Nunez, whose flick-on was swiftly knocked in by Diaz at the back post.
“You see Wan-Bissaka here with a player. You have five players in a line,” the ex-stalwart centre-half explained.
“Casemiro, he didn’t attack the ball. He should be taking the responsibility for that position. He is late then, obviously, Nunez gets the better of Wan-Bissaka.”
If anyone knows how difficult this is to pull off, then it’s Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United legend had produced the odd moment of showstopping brilliance himself a couple of times in his own career, after all.
Two weeks ago, Rooney celebrated the 10-year anniversary of that volley against West Ham at Upton Park. Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer also found the net from the halfway line vs The Clarets after returning for a second spell at Everton, and repeated the trick during his time across the Atlantic for DC United against Orlando City.
So as Rooney shone a light on the technique Bruno Fernandes displayed when fizzing a first-time strike past Coaimhin Kelleher and into the Liverpool goal from 50-yards out on Sunday afternoon, the former Red Devils skipper was worth listening to.
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Wayne Rooney hails Manchester United ace
“It’s great,” Rooney tells Premier League Promotions. “The keeper is a bit fortunate. He didn’t get a hand on the ball and didn’t get a red card.
“The technique, (Fernandes) almost stabs it in. Just put the right amount of spin and elevation to get it over the keeper. A fantastic finish.”
Rooney even believes that Fernandes’ Beckham vs Wimbledon-esque finish was even better than his iconic volley away to West Ham a decade ago.
“(My goal) was easier technique than Bruno’s one. I had a similar one against West Ham for Everton, which was a bit easier. The amount of times you see when players go to kick the ball and (if hits) your left toe and you just miss the ball…
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“Bruno’s was incredible technique. If it comes from the other side, you can put a bit of curl on it. It’s easier to do it that way. Well, for some of us! That’s such a difficult technique to do and keep the control on it. Such a hard skill when the ball is coming across you, so it’s an incredible finish.”
The Portugal international has often come in for criticism on the back of his performances against fellow ‘top six’ sides. And after a pretty dismal first half, it looked as if Fernandes would be in for a similar post-match roasting.
That was, of course, until he took his tally for the season to double figures with only his third goal against Jurgen Klopp’s side. And his first since 2021.
Bruno Fernandes finally turns up vs Liverpool
Rooney, however, was not quite so complimentary when it comes to Fernandes’ involvement in Liverpool’s late equaliser. The skipper was beaten too easily by Joe Gomez in the build up to the penalty Harvey Elliot won (and we do mean ‘won’ having seen the replay from that angle) with around ten minutes left on the clock.
“Very poor,” Rooney adds, Elliot dangling his leg and tumbling over the sprawling Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“When you go back a bit, Bruno Fernandes is too easy to get past when Joe Gomez is taking his run down the line. “Bruno dives in and lets him get past, which is why Aaron Wan-Bissaka then has to come out.
“If he stays on his feet you don’t get to this situation. But it’s very poor from Wan-Bissaka.”
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