This time last year, Kobbie Mainoo’s only Wembley experience was as a spectator at Manchester United’s Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle.
Coach Erik ten Hag hugged Mainoo during the post-match celebrations in February 2023 and told him: “Your day will come, let’s win trophies together.”
Mainoo’s day came much sooner than he or anyone else expected. Just 13 months later, he stepped onto the Wembley pitch as an England player against Brazil after establishing himself as a regular starter for United.
On Saturday, he is likely to be one of the first names in Ten Hag’s squad when United take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
“It’s happened very quickly,” says Mainoo, who has made 31 appearances so far this season. The first of his four goals came in the FA Cup at Newport, and he scored a goal in the quarter-final victory over Liverpool.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manchester United will look to change the odds against Man City
This time last year, Mainoo’s only experience at Wembley was as a spectator during Manchester United’s Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle.
Mainoo is now one of the first names on boss Erik ten Hag’s team sheet (right)
‘That was the first time I went (to Wembley). Seeing the amount of people in the stadium and the atmosphere was incredible. I really wanted to play. Just looking at it, yes, he was excited.
“There were times when eyes weren’t on me and all I wanted was for people to see me play football. I used to whisper it when I played at Old Trafford, under the lights.
United’s defeat to City in the FA Cup final also came too soon for Mainoo, who grew up in the blue bastion of Stockport. On Saturday he will have the opportunity to help his kids club get revenge on his neighbors.
“When I was a kid, obviously everyone around me was a City fan,” he adds. “Only a few of us had to fight as United fans. Playing in a derby as an FA Cup final is a dream come true.
‘We don’t come to participate, we come to win. City are one of the best teams in the world right now, if not the best, there is no denying it. But in the finals anything can happen.”
Recalling the goal against Liverpool, which was compared to Federico Macheda’s famous Stretford End goal against Aston Villa in 2009, Mainoo spotted his mother Abina in the crowd.
“I saw the comparisons (with Macheda) afterwards,” he says. ‘When the ball went into the back of the net, I was celebrating a goal at Old Trafford against Liverpool! I was thinking about that but when I saw the comparisons it was crazy to see.
“I could see my mother with my cousin in the crowd in front of me, I blew him a kiss when I scored. The family comes to almost every game and they keep me grounded.
Mainoo has enjoyed an excellent season and has been called up to England.
“Obviously, on the field a lot of things have changed. A lot more people know my name now. But at home, with the family I have around me, they keep me grounded and nothing changes at home. When I try to go to the corner store I get a little more attention!’
Another celebration also attracted a lot of attention after Mainoo posed alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho on an advertising billboard at Old Trafford after the latter scored in the 3-0 win over West Ham in February.
“I always ask Garna before the game what the celebration will be if he scores,” Mainoo says. “He said he wasn’t going to tell me. I saw him jump on the billboard when he scored and Rasmus and I jumped there with him. He wanted it for himself! But yeah, we jumped there and it was a nice photo.
“All of us young guys, and Amad too, have a lot of fun together and we’ve definitely gotten closer this season.”
Mainoo scored an excellent goal for the Red Devils in their Premier League clash against Liverpool
The goal earned comparisons with Federico Macheda’s memorable goal against Aston Villa
Things could get even better for Mainoo after being named in England’s provisional squad for this summer’s Euros. It was a prospect that seemed very far away when he was injured on United’s pre-season tour of the United States last summer.
“I didn’t even think about England back then,” he admits. “I was just thinking about getting fit and getting back into the team, not even the starting eleven. So being here I wouldn’t have even dreamed of.
“I’m not trying to think too much about it because we have a final coming up, so right now all my attention is on the club. But obviously I’m going to pre-camp and if I get selected for the Euros it will be incredible.”