Paul Scholes has accused Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim of 'ruining' Kobbie Mainoo after the midfielder was an unused substitute in their 1-1 draw against West Ham.
Mainoo, who has not started a game for United since their Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town in August, has been used sparingly of late. In fact, the 20-year-old has played just 265 minutes across all competitions this season.
Despite a lack of first-team minutes, Amorim said in November that he considers Mainoo "a starter like the other players".
He added: "I just have to make a choice and then in the end, it's not been Kobbie. In the future, I don't know. Again, I always think the same thing with Casemiro. [He] was not playing and then he plays. I just want to win games. I don't care who is playing."
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A week later and, after Mainoo was overlooked by Amorim for their clash against West Ham, a furious Paul Scholes responded to the above comments with a no-nonsense take on the situation.
"Bulls***," Scholes said on Instagram, as seen in the screenshot below. "The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can't control a game of football."
The former Manchester United midfielder added: "Hate seeing home grown players leave but it's probably best for him now, enough is enough."
Scholes is a big fan of Mainoo. Speaking to The Guardian in August last year, he named United's academy product as the player that most resembles Zinedine Zidane in the modern game.
"He's the nearest thing I've seen to Zidane, in taking a ball, receiving the ball, cruising past people," said Scholes.
"I heard there was a young lad holding his own against Casemiro in training, sometimes better than him. But you have to go out and do it.
"The first time I saw him, I remember that calmness. The way he received the ball with confidence; I just couldn't believe such a young player could do that."
"That calmness didn't come for me as quick as it did for Kobbie," he continued. "I'd say it came five or six years into my career. That's why it amazes me. He's so relaxed, the game's so easy to him. It's almost like poetry in motion."
Ruben Amorim's reaction when reporter mentions Kobbie Mainoo in press conference
By the full-time whistle against West Ham, Amorim had used all five of his substitutions, with Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Lisandro Martinez being brought on to try and make an impact.
Mainoo, meanwhile, remained on the bench. Amorim's substitutions against Nuno Espirito Santo's side were a big talking point.
In his post-match press conference on Thursday night, the United manager was asked whether he regretted any of his changes.
"No, we are losing because of the second balls, sometimes it’s not more men in front that you are going to win the ball," Amorim replied, before asking some questions of his own to the reporter.
"We had more men to put in the offence? Who?" he asked. "Who would be more offensive?"
Kobbie Mainoo’s name was brought up, but Amorim laughed.
Topics: Paul Scholes, Man Utd, Ruben Amorim
Jack Kenmare