When we met during the summer, you mentioned creating a leadership group to handle issues that ended up on your plate—issues that could have been resolved within the dressing room. Is the situation with Kobbie one of those scenarios where perhaps the leadership group could address him directly and say, ‘Look…’
“No, the situation persists; I’m still the one handling everything that comes my way. Every issue at our football club falls back on me, and while it will take time, my door is always open. It isn’t solely about Kobbie. His role is to train and perform, and I believe he showed great promise in the game against Bournemouth. Ultimately, that’s what matters to me. If he’s needed to play, he’ll play. If not, then he won’t.”
I’m not sure if you saw what Chido Obi and Harry Amass posted on social media recently. What’s your take on that? It seems a bit trivial…
“I believe it reflects a sense of entitlement that exists within our club. Sometimes, strong words aren’t necessarily bad. Facing challenges can be beneficial for young players. We shouldn’t expect constant praise in every circumstance. This is why we hear about players speaking out against their clubs—it’s often rooted in a sense of entitlement. Legends of this club have said it best: if you’re not playing, then consider leaving—everyone shares in the responsibility. Instead, we should focus on staying, fighting, and looking to improve, even if it means accepting that the manager might not always be right. I constantly sense that we need to combat this mindset. Admittedly, I sometimes feel that I’m not doing enough on the pitch, but off the pitch, I can assure you I’m committed to this club. I think it’s an issue that we, as a club, need to confront. Players sometimes forget what it means to represent Manchester United, and we as an organization can also lose sight of that. I understand the players’ frustrations; they feel entitled and free to respond to the manager inappropriately. However, my office is always open, and nobody comes to address issues with me directly. We need to initiate change within the club, and everything else will follow.”
