Manny Ita –
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo accidentally injured his hand during Saturday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford, which ended in a dramatic 3-2 victory for the hosts.
The match saw Manchester United secure all three points through a late winner from substitute Benjamin Sesko, just minutes after Fulham had drawn level in stoppage time. The result lifted United back into the Premier League’s top four following an eventful encounter between the two sides.
Iwobi sustained the injury during an on-field challenge involving Mainoo and later spoke about the incident while also praising the midfielder. Speaking on his matchday vlog, Iwobi said: “Shout-out to Kobbie Mainoo. But Kobbie, you finished my hand. Kobbie, you absolutely finished my hand. This guy’s got Ghanaian strength!”
The Fulham player also reflected on the match, expressing frustration with certain officiating decisions while acknowledging his team’s performance. “It was a good game, we’d done well to get back into the game. Before that, VAR had done us dirty. It kind of saved us because they didn’t get a pen, but Samuel [Chukwueze]’s arm… I don’t know if he was offside,” Iwobi said. “It was a good performance to bring it back. Shout out to Kevin for getting his first goal… what a goal by the way, that was a mad goal. And obviously Raul [Jimenez] doesn’t miss from the penalty spot. Obviously, we felt hard done by with them scoring in the last minute of the game. Appreciate the love and support.”
Mainoo has recently re-established himself in Manchester United’s starting line-up under head coach Michael Carrick after a period of limited involvement earlier in the season. The midfielder has started United’s last three matches, all of which ended in victories over Arsenal, Manchester City and Fulham.
After the game, Carrick described the win as significant and praised his players’ mentality. “This was a big game for us. They are a good team and they are close behind us in the league,” Carrick said. “Every game is a big game and we have to treat it like that. Today was a tough one. It was even tougher because everyone expected going into the game it would be different. But we got our players mentally and physically right and we got there in the end.”
Carrick also highlighted Mainoo’s development and resilience, expressing confidence in the youngster’s future. “He’s so young, Kobbie. He’s had some real highs and he’s had some disappointments, that’s natural,” he said. “It makes him better, stronger and more experienced and he’s showing that. He’s a joy to watch. A big part of being a top player is being able to cope with the environment, and he’s proved he can.”
Manchester United are set to return to action on Saturday when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, with Carrick aiming to extend his side’s winning run in the league.
