Diogo Dalot lists three reasons why Kobbie Mainoo can star in new Manchester United position
Diogo Dalot was very impressed with Kobbie Mainoo's performance in the No.10 position in Man United's 2-0 win over FCSB.
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot lauded teammate Kobbie Mainoo after his eye-catching performance in Thursday night's 2-0 win over FCSB in Bucharest.
United secured automatic qualification for the last 16 of the Europa League with a routine triumph in Romania, with Dalot and Mainoo on target.
Dalot opened the scoring with an hour on the clock, turning home Mainoo's excellent cross, before the latter got on the scoresheet himself just eight minutes later. The England international met Alejandro Garnacho's cutback and swept a first-time finish past FCSB goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu.
Mainoo was deployed in the left-sided No.10 position from the start and excelled in the role, offering United plenty of attacking threat. He was excellent prior to his goal contributions, meaning his goal and assist topped off a fine evening's work.
And Dalot felt Mainoo used his opportunity in a more advanced position to show exactly what he can bring to the table when deployed higher up the pitch.
"I think you can see how good a footballer he can be playing in all types of zones on the pitch," Dalot told MUTV.
"I think in this area of the pitch [the No.10 position] he is a really good threat because he is really strong holding the ball up, he is really good progressing the ball and then with the quality he has at his feet, I think it is also important to have the combinations that he did.
"He did an assist as well. I think overall he did a good game and I think he is happy with his performance."
Following the win over FCSB, United's attention immediately switches to Sunday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. The squad will not immediately return to England, instead undertaking a recovery session in Romania before flying back to Manchester.
Dalot added: "We are staying here [in Romania] so that means we need to focus on some recovery. We play on Sunday, it is going to be a tough game and I think we have to recover really quick so we can be ready to win the game."