According to Metro, Declan Rice has come to the defense of Kobbie Mainoo amidst criticism of the Manchester United youngster’s performance during England’s match against Iceland.
Mainoo’s rapid ascent has been a bright spot in Manchester United’s otherwise disappointing season, culminating in his winning goal in last month’s FA Cup final. However, his return to Wembley last night saw a different story unfold, with England delivering a lackluster display in front of a near-capacity crowd and suffering a 1-0 defeat.
While Mainoo was one of several players partially responsible for Iceland’s winning goal, Rice believes their partnership is a work in progress that has the potential to flourish in upcoming matches, starting with the game against Serbia in Germany next week. Rice stated, “Yeah, look, we did it in March and it was really positive. I can imagine tonight, because we lost, some people are saying stuff, but that’s football these days. Kobbie’s young, I’m young, our midfield options are young. Look, we’re going to learn every game, and that’s the beauty of football.”
In response to the fans’ frosty reception at the final whistle, England manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “I completely understand. We didn’t play well enough to keep them excited within the game.” Southgate emphasized the need for a better performance to maintain the fans’ support throughout the match and accepted their reaction as warranted.
Despite the defeat, Southgate acknowledged that there were lessons to be learned from the game and expressed no qualms with the supporters’ reaction. He emphasized the importance of providing exciting gameplay and maintaining intensity to keep the fans engaged.
As England prepares for future matches, including the upcoming game against Serbia, the focus will be on learning from mistakes and delivering performances that justify the fans’ unwavering support.
