Nicky Butt on Mainoo and why Utd are miles off City and Liverpool
07/09/2024
OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER, UK
07/09/2024
OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00Good fun, yeah, once we got off without an injury, so I think that was my most important thing,
00:04was getting off the pitch without being on crutches, so yeah, I'm quite happy with that.
00:07Big pitch, yeah?
00:08Big pitch, yeah, big pitch, but it's a good cause, and it's great to see all the lads that I've not seen for a long time,
00:12and old friends, so it's a good cause, we get to play at Old Trafford probably the last time we'll ever get a chance to do that,
00:18I won't be playing again, and yeah, it was nice, and I'll just go for a drink with the lads now and catch up.
00:23I think you've been asked earlier about the current United team,
00:26you've been a member of a very successful United team from the past,
00:29from your perspective, and you've worked here with them,
00:32what's it going to take to get this team back to where it belongs and should be?
00:35It's going to take a long time, and I think obviously any big Man United fan will be lying if they think they're going to be challenging for the Premier League this year,
00:44they're not, and the managers put a squad together that's going to have to get together and learn their way of playing and be successful,
00:51and that's going to take time, and the people upstairs have brought in new people,
00:56the hierarchy, the sporting directors, the head of football,
00:59and one thing they are, they've brought in specialists in their field, so that's a good start,
01:02and if we do that and be patient, then hopefully we'll get success,
01:07but we're way off Man City and winning the Premier League now,
01:11so people who say that we should be challenging are dreaming really.
01:15Do you think the changes that have been made is a positive thing,
01:17because it's obviously the international team, it's going to be a long-term project?
01:21Yes, I think it's definitely a positive thing, I think we're probably the only big football club in the world that didn't have a sporting director,
01:26didn't have certain things in place, but now we have, so hopefully there's no excuses,
01:31but it will take time, you might just put a squad together,
01:33you can't expect them to go on a football pitch and be dominant and play a certain way,
01:37so we're going to have to take our time and be a bit patient, but how long that's going to take, I don't know.
01:43And it's a revolving door, Man City and Manchester United,
01:45but for me, that's what helped me with my visit,
01:47do you believe that they should just erase the man out of the trainer's contract?
01:54Well, I think if they give him an extension and they kept him on, they've got to give him time,
01:58otherwise get rid of him in the summer, it's madness to get rid of him in November, December, January,
02:02because unless they've got someone waiting, which quite obviously they haven't,
02:06they've got to stand by him, give him a bit of time and hopefully get it right over the next few months.
02:13Obviously it's not easy being a Man United fan and seeing the success that they're having,
02:23but you've just got to hold your hands up, they're both very good teams,
02:25they've got great squads, good managers,
02:27and you can only really applaud them through gritted teeth!
02:31But yeah, they're both amazing football teams and squads and they play football the right way.
02:37Good to be back out there today with a team-mate.
02:39Yeah, it was good, enjoyable with the lads,
02:42seeing everybody that I've not seen for a while, so it was nice to see them all catch up and jott it.
02:46There was a moment out there where you won the ball, the rest given a foul!
02:49See, Scolesy having a go at it, everyone's having a go at it, have you not lost that?
02:53I just got told that, I didn't see the fall over or something as well, Scolesy, I didn't see it,
02:56so I'll re-watch it and have a look.
02:59Yeah, it did look like you got the ball.
03:02How does it feel to be back out there at Old Trafford with the fans?
03:05You kind of just mentioned it could be your last time pulling the boots on out there,
03:08you never know when that will be, does it still bring back the emotion?
03:11Yeah, it's great, isn't it, to go out there and play football?
03:13It's what you dreamed about when you were a kid and even though we're at a certain age now,
03:17it's still great to go out onto that pitch and play football and play with your mates, it's extra special.
03:21I don't want to get into the negativity of this season so far, I want to talk positive.
03:25Kaby Mane, he's an unreal player in that midfield, he plays with wing mirrors on at times,
03:30great touch, he's got the ability to score a goal, what have you made of him and watching his development?
03:34Yeah, he's a top player, I've known him a long time, since I was a kid.
03:37One thing he's got, he's got an amazing temperament for a young man, great ability, great feet,
03:43he's got it all really and obviously he'll be a very wanting man.