I’m a former Man Utd wonderkid who scored legendary goal, I hope Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t follow my path

FEDERICO MACHEDA has told Kobbie Mainoo not to repeat the mistakes he made as a youngster following Sunday’s eye-popping replica goal.

Aged only 17, Macheda was catapulted to fame overnight after downing Aston Villa on his debut for Manchester United in April 2009.

Now playing for lowly Turkish side Ankaragucu, Macheda admits he let success go to his head.

He said: “After that goal maybe I felt I made it. I was unaware about what came next.

“I thought that more of the same was enough but you should always raise the bar to maintain those standards.

“And it was easy to grow too big for your boots for a person with my background.

“I was brought up in a way where it’s impossible to stay grounded and when you’re young you don’t look at the bigger picture.

“But I should have done more. With hindsight, I know that if I had grafted the way I do now, I’d have had more chances.

“The way Mainoo is playing it looks as if he’s been there for ten years. But what’s paramount is that he keeps going.

“He’ll get help because when you play every week people take extra care of you and they make you feel important.”

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Despite wowing Old Trafford with that wonder strike — which helped see off Liverpool’s title bid — Macheda feels it was a double-edged sword.

The Italian, 32, said: “Things changed quickly and I didn’t expect it.

“The attention had become too much. Such was the importance of the goal that it was on everyone’s lips and you can never prepare for such a life change.

“I lost my way and my confidence in later years, struggling to perform.

“I had been out almost a year after undergoing back surgery which then left me without a club.

“It was a dark time. But if could go back in time, I’d like to score it another thousand times!”

Asked which one of the two goals was harder to execute, Macheda said: “We’re talking about two absolute crackers which are identical.

“On a technical level mine was probably more beautiful to watch due to the back-heel control and turn but Mainoo’s striking technique was cleaner.

“And the nice thing is both were at the expense of Liverpool.”

Yet Macheda claimed it will be tougher for Mainoo’s stunner to stand the test of time — owing to the fact it will not yield a Premier League trophy.

He said: “When goals like that don’t go hand in hand with the team’s success, it’s harder.

“My goal came off the back of two consecutive defeats. It happened at a crucial stage of the season.

“In that game against Villa, we were 2-1 down and it felt as though we were in quicksand. We just didn’t know how to turn a corner.

“But the way my goal came about, the moment, the importance and the timing is something that you don’t see every day.”

Macheda thinks it has “definitely become easier” to stake a claim for a place at United today.

He said: “If I had scored that goal now I’d have been handed a lot more opportunities.

“Man United’s attacking options between then and now simply don’t compare.

“In my time it was virtually impossible to be part of that Man United team — even in training.

“The attacking line featured four world-class players in Tevez, Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov. Nowadays it’s a lot easier.

“Kobbie’s a top talent but he’s able to show it because he’s playing with consistency. For me, that was impossible.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk