06 Jul 2026 10:55:10
Casemiro's comments about Mainoo, not sure where the narrative that he isn't focused has come from.
"Kobbie is the present and the future," said the Brazil international. "I think that he is one of the best no.8s and can be that for the next 12 years.
"He is a player I really like. He always wants the ball. It is true that football can’t change your mentality but
Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once."
"He has to continue focusing
like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now.
But what a player he is, he is a great player."
"He has demonstrated this, in the Euros final with England, he has
demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the FA Cup [in the 2024 final win over Manchester City]."
"Kobbie is the present and the future."
06 Jul 2026 12:29:22
"I've told him, 'You play good. Yeah, it's top, it's top.' And I try every day like this with Kobe. Kobbie is an unbelievable player. But he needs to train, train, train. He needs fear, like 'I play, I don't play.
I need to push the training, push the training.'
This is the bit about working hard, it's not really a huge deal in the context of the whole conversation.
06 Jul 2026 12:30:11
What would Casemiro know.
06 Jul 2026 15:26:02
Jsu's 1st language is obviously not English that's very apparent so you really have to take anything that he says with a huge pinch of salt. He doesn't make sense most of the time. He might be stupid as well but we don't know that for sure so indulge him and throw him a bone now and then.
06 Jul 2026 18:10:39
Kobbie, who finished the season, was running hard everywhere. He was getting to the pitch and sprinting back at double speed to cover Casemiro when he was out wide, filling holes in our defense. In the past he was not doing that. I'm not saying he was a lazy player, but I feel like he coasted through some games, using his skill and positioning to save him from some of the lung-busting runs.
If we can get a more intelligent Robbie, who learns when to get around the pitch like a man possessed, and when to sit and protect, then we will have an even better player.
He also sometimes plays the safe option with the ball rather than the more challenging ball to cut open the opponent. He can break lines by driving forward with the ball, but he is doing that less these days. Is this part of coaches' instruction? Who knows.
I think he will continue to develop, and I expect him to take on a more influential role this year. If he plays the whole season like he ended the last one, I will be more than happy.