'A dream come true' - the making of Man Utd match-winner Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo's scoring streak continues as he found the back of the net in two consecutive games, including a goal for Manchester United during the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Kobbie Mainoo was beaming with joy after scoring his first Premier League goal. The goal came at the 97th minute and led his childhood club to a 4-3 win. It's no surprise that he was smiling from ear to ear.

The Manchester United midfielder, who is only 18 years old, expressed his joy after scoring the winning goal in a thrilling Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. He exclaimed that it was like a dream come true.

I haven't stopped feeling intense emotions since then. I can't shake off this feeling of disbelief, like it's all just a fantasy.

It's been incredible to finally play in the Premier League for the team I always supported as a child. From here on, our focus is on achieving victories and gaining more wins.

Mainoo has played 11 times for United's senior team. In his previous matches, he showed his skills in midfield without making too much noise.

However, this was a completely different situation. It involved a young man who exhibited exceptional individual skills in lifting his injured teammates from the ground to secure a victory that Manchester United had seemingly lost.

Just a few moments after Pedro Neto scored to level the game for the home team, Mainoo got hold of the ball around 35 yards away from the goal. He dodged one opposing player, got the ball through the legs of Wolves' captain Max Kilman, switched to his right foot, and brilliantly curved a shot low into the net, beating Jose Sa.

Mainoo is the freshest teenage sensation from United who has emerged and made a significant impact in the Premier League arena.

Over the past five Premier League matches, players aged 18 or under have scored the winning goals in the 90th-minute four times. These victories were achieved by United's Federico Macheda in 2009, Marcus Rashford in 2016, Alejandro Garnacho in 2022, and most recently, Mainoo.

'Walking Through Teams'

The quick movement of his feet may have been unexpected for supporters of Manchester United who have only observed him play as a midfielder position further back on the pitch. However, for those who have been keeping up with his journey since he was a youngster, it was no surprise.

At the young age of five, Mainoo began his journey in football by joining his local team, Cheadle and Gatley JFC, located in Greater Manchester.

At the tender age of six, Mainoo was already under the tutelage of Steve Vare who immediately recognized his exceptional talent.

"I've worked with other children who showed great potential at that age and didn't reach the same levels as he did," Vare explained to BBC Sport. "He's certainly a talented athlete. I make sure to push him and assess his abilities, despite his young age."

When Kobbie joined, it was apparent that he possessed impressive skills - physical strength, agility, and great control over the ball. To push him further, I made sure he played with superior players by putting him on the opposite team. Later on, I even had him face off against older boys to provide him with more challenges.

When he was young, he displayed remarkable speed on the field. He had an impressive ability to swiftly move the ball and outmaneuver other players. He possessed both strength and a lean build, making it difficult for opponents to take the ball away from him. Even though youth football can be very direct and focused on long passes, he was skilled at keeping the ball close to his feet. He could weave in and out of cones and navigate through challenges while keeping the ball under his control.

There were some children who only wanted to kick the ball around and were uninterested in being coached, preferring to focus on playing games. However, Kobbie was different and always showed eagerness to listen and improve.

You were aware that you needed to place more skilled players on the other team in an attempt to test him. He had a clear path, effortlessly scoring six or seven goals without much resistance.

In the past, we used to award a man-of-the-match title at the conclusion of each session. It was consistently bestowed upon the same player every week as he continually outperformed the rest of the group. However, we decided to shift our focus and present the award to the individual who has made the most progression, rather than the same person dominating every time.

'I Get Seedorf Vibes From Him'

Vare had a conversation with Felix, Mainoo's dad, and advised him to enroll his son in a prestigious academy. Following his admission into Manchester United, the rest of the story unfolded.

Vare, who is now a member of the committee for Cheadle and Gatley, mentioned that the current young players on the team have potential to become the next Kobbie Mainoo. This has lifted the morale of everyone involved.

At United, Mainoo's position is that of a successful academy graduate. He has taken on this role from Rashford, who seemed to be the center of attention after scoring just five minutes into his return from a challenging time in Belfast. However, number 37 stole the limelight.

It's quite concerning that United had to depend on a young person to rescue them in a match they were already winning 2-0 at half-time and was still ahead 3-1 in the 85th minute. They should have won without difficulty.

However, it appears that Mainoo has discovered a midfielder who possesses exceptional skill and is likely to remain a part of the team.

Rio Ferdinand, a former United defender, shared on TNT Sports how he felt seeing Kobbie Mainoo's amazing moment on the floor. The moment was something they've already seen in the academy before, but Mainoo was able to bring it into mainstream football. Ferdinand expressed how Mainoo deserves recognition for his incredible performance.

This kid's calmness during the game is outstanding. Even in the youth team, he has always shown potential to be a star player. Moving up to the first team without any problems proves that he has a promising career ahead of him. He knows about the high standards and the history of the team.

I don't mean to suggest that he is equal to or possesses the same level of skill as Clarence Seedorf, but there's something about him that makes me think of Seedorf. The way he moves around in difficult situations and the way he handles the ball and his body occasionally resemble Seedorf's style. He is also very hard to catch at times. While some people only pay attention to flashy plays, he can often execute subtle and delicate moves.

Mainoo's dream has turned into a reality, and it seems like this is only the beginning for him.