Kobbie Mainoo has given his verdict on his new rating for the EA Sports FC 25 game.
Kobbie Mainoo may have played enough games of FIFA over the years to understand the machinations of the game’s always-divisive rating system.
Not only did Mainoo guess his overall rating correctly – going from 62 to 77 in the space of 12 months – he was also on the money with regards to his defensive rating of 73, his 74-strong pace, and also in the dribbling department with his ranking upgraded from a measly 66 to a snake-hipped 81.
“I think I am a decent dribbler. I think it’s fair,” Mainoo tells the official Premier League YouTube channel, a ‘bronze’ in last year’s game and now a Manchester United ‘gold’ member in the upcoming EA SPORTS FC 25 edition.
“When I was younger, I always liked dribbling. In futsal, playing in the park… that’s what I enjoy doing. That’s what i enjoyed watching when I was younger.
“It’s one of the things I enjoy about football.”
Kobbie Mainoo ever-improving at Manchester United
Of course, there are a few standout moments that come to mind when discussing Mainoo’s effortless close control and his mind-bending, Seedorf-esque skill in the tightest of areas.
That bamboozling run against Liverpool in the FA Cup. And that stunning solo goal to break Wolverhampton Wanderers’ hearts in the 97th minute at Molineux.
“On the pitch, it was a bit of an out of body experience,” Mainoo says, recalling the moment that really launched him as a ‘generational’ Premier League superstar. “Crazy.
“Celebrating with all the fans, it was limbs because obviously it was 90-plus seven (minutes). It was crazy. I remember when I slid on my knees, I got cramp so I had to get up quickly! That brought me back down to earth!
“But it was amazing. An amazing feeling.”
Mainoo does feel a little hard done by when it comes to his ‘strength’ rating of 72, however.
He believes 76 would be a fairer judgement, especially having established himself as an all-action, box-to-box dynamo in a flawed midfield set-up which demands not only extreme levels of technical ability but serious physical prowess too.
Who is the ‘strongest’ player in Erik ten Hag’s squad?
“Going up and down, I think that’s my favourite position to play. Number eight, being able to attack but also coming back to help out,” Mainoo explains. “I think (my strength) rating could be a bit higher. Definitely should be higher than my defending.
“(But) it’s OK! First proper season, it’s OK.
“I don’t really to read what people say about me, whether it’s good or bad. I just keep everything internal, listen to what my family say and what the coaches say.
When pressed further on who should be ranked as the strongest member of the Manchester United squad, the first name that came to Mainoo’s mind should come as no surprise.
Though, if you were to interpret the question a little differently, Harry Maguire could find himself facing a little competition.
“Just (based on) strength? Probably Harry Maguire,” Mainoo muses. “But, pound-for-pound, who’s the strongest based on weight and height?
“Licha (Lisandro Martinez) is strong. Luke (Shaw) is very strong.”
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