Graeme Souness in furious on-air clash over Kobbie Mainoo as he claims Man Utd star ‘doesn’t know his own position’

GRAEME SOUNESS has defended Thomas Tuchel’s decision not to turn to Kobbie Mainoo during the World Cup. And the Scot, 73, reckons that Mainoo “doesn’t know” the midfield position. Thomas Tuchel has refused to turn to Kobbie Mainoo Credit: PA Graeme Souness is not a huge fan of the Man Utd midfielder Credit: Willie Vass Manchester United starlet Mainoo, 21, is one of two outfielders among England‘s 26-man squad to have not played a single minute at this tournament. Tuchel instead chose to turn to the likes of Ezri Konsa and Dan Burn during Wednesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina, despite the Three Lions increasingly struggling to get on the ball. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Appearing on World Cup Uncensored, Souness said: “He will have looked at his bench and gone ‘I’ve got to make a change here. “And this is where he is culpable, he has looked at his bench and gone ‘Kobbie Mainoo, I’m going to put him on?’ “He’s panicked and he’s loaded it up because he is now thinking ‘I’ve got a whole lot of the game, I can’t get the game back and I’ve now got to nick the game by defending properly like we did in Mexico.” Speaking to fellow panellist Simon Jordan, Souness added of the England boss: “He’s lost the midfield, the game has gone, what do you do? You have to bring someone on to do it, who are you bringing on?” Jordan then accused Souness: “I know you are not a big fan of Kobbie Mainoo because you have got a bias and you have never liked him because you spoke about him two or three years ago…” When the Liverpool legend asked Jordan to explain what he meant, the former Crystal Palace chief added: “Because you don’t like Kobbie Mainoo.” Most read in Football WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS Mainoo, 21, has remained a sub throughout the World Cup Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Souness then clarified: “When did I say I don’t like Kobbie Mainoo? “Kobbie Mainoo is a young man who is really good with the ball, but does not know the position. “He doesn’t know the position of trying to get that game back on side, he empties the midfield too soon. “That’s my dislike of Kobbie Mainoo at this moment in time.” This is not the first time that Souness has criticised the defensive aspect of Mainoo’s game. In a Mail column written during the 2024-25 season, the veteran pundit claimed: “Mainoo catches the eye because he’s so good on the ball, drifts around, pops up on the left and the right, but he’s not got any sense of danger yet, and empties the midfield area too readily. “Mainoo doesn’t yet understand all the disciplines of the position but he’s only 19. He can develop, with the proper guidance and instruction.” The young midfielder was a key player for England at Euro 2024 and even started the final against Spain. He has since endured a bumpy ride at Man Utd, having fallen out of favour under former boss Ruben Amorim. Mainoo returned to prominence under Amorim’s successor Michael Carrick, and played a key role in the Red Devils securing a Champions League place. Comment now