Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has advised England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to boycott the upcoming third-place playoff match against France, citing Thomas Tuchel's treatment of the player during the World Cup. Mainoo has not played a single minute under Tuchel in the tournament, leading Butt to suggest he should refuse to participate in what he called a "pointless jumped-up friendly."
Butt's call for boycott
Speaking to Paddy Power, Butt said: "I do not know what is going on there, there’s something not quite right with it. Now they’re going to play the bomb squad in the stupid third-place game. I’d just refuse to play if I was Kobbie Mainoo. I’d say I was injured." He added: "It’s a nonsense game, especially when you’ve been treated like that. He’s not played a minute of football, now to go and start this pointless jumped-up friendly and potentially get injured for the whole season… no."
Scholes agrees with criticism
Paul Scholes, Butt's former midfield partner at Manchester United, echoed the sentiment on The Good, The Bad & The Football. "It seems like it’s anybody but Kobbie Mainoo for Thomas Tuchel at the minute," Scholes said. "He’s bringing Reece James on who hasn’t played for three weeks because of a hamstring injury. Only Tuchel will know why, I can’t imagine Kobbie being a problem in the camp. But every manager has their favourites, of course they do."
Butt fears for Mainoo's confidence
Butt expressed concern that Mainoo's confidence might be damaged if he is thrown into the match. "Do you know something? I actually hope Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t come on now. Because he’s probably so down, he’s not played and he’s not kicked a football in a real game. He’s been training, obviously, but if he goes in now, the only thing he can do is bad. It’s anybody but Kobbie for Tuchel. He won’t be the first one to go to a World Cup and not play a minute, there’s a few players who have done that."
Tuchel retains FA backing despite semi-final defeat
England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, and Tuchel has retained the backing of the Football Association. Wayne Rooney has suggested the FA should stick with Tuchel unless a move for Pep Guardiola is possible. The third-place playoff against France is scheduled to take place in the United States.
