“I maintain the same view: it’s obvious that developing this team will take time, especially in the Premier League where every club is well-prepared and constantly improving. However, we need to secure results now. If we don’t, change is inevitable, and we are aware of that. We need to perform better. Specifically, looking at our recent games, we should have won the last match. We had every opportunity to clinch it. The same goes for our matches against Nottingham and Tottenham—we had the chances and didn’t capitalize. That’s my sentiment. I feel an urgent need to win; being at Manchester United without victories is not acceptable. There’s no leniency here, and that’s why I often feel frustrated. We understand the need for time, yet we’re also aware that time is a luxury we don’t have. We must focus on securing wins.
After Monday’s match, you expressed concern about reverting to last season’s struggles, and you mentioned how quickly the league can change. While you’ve had some positive results, two draws and a defeat have followed. How worried are you about the potential for a repeat of last season’s issues?
“We need to avoid thinking too far ahead. Because when we lose, it brings a feeling of frustration and anger that I find hard to cope with. I don’t want to experience that again; it complicates my life. So, let’s stay grounded. Like I said during our winning streak, that’s all behind us now. Everything can shift in an instant. We didn’t win the last game, and that’s an issue, but let’s focus on winning the next one. It’s going to be challenging, but we’re determined to push forward.”
Hi Ruben, Kobbie Mainoo played a significant role on Monday as a substitute. How close is he to starting a match, and what does he need to demonstrate to earn that opportunity? Considering it’s a World Cup year and he has ten caps for England, I imagine he initially had World Cup aspirations when the season began…
“Absolutely, but football is a team effort. While there’s a lot of focus on Kobbie, I have other players in my squad who are also vying for World Cup recognition, so it’s a bit unfair to single him out. I included Kobbie on Monday because he excels in offensive situations—having him and Bruno together creates opportunities near the box to score goals. My priority is to use all of my players strategically to win as a team. I understand how significant a World Cup selection is for players. However, my responsibility is to ensure success for the team, not just individual players. Kobbie is in the same situation as the rest. If I believe starting him will be the best way to secure a victory, then that’s what I will do. Simple as that.”
