Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PEARLS ON FILM
After Busby Babes and Fergie Fledglings, new United boss will watch video of Youth Cup win to spot his Ten Hag Tyros
ERIK TEN HAG has asked Manchester United to send him a video recording of the club’s FA Youth Cup triumph.
The incoming Reds boss is keen to run the rule over potential future stars before his arrival in June.
United’s Under-18s beat their Nottingham Forest counterparts 3-1 in front of almost 70,000 fans at Old Trafford on Wednesday night to lift the trophy for the first time since 2011.
Ten Hag was unable to watch because he was leading Ajax to their 36th Dutch title in what was his final act in charge.
But he will watch a video of the action to see if there are some players he can promote to the senior side.
And according to academy director Nick Cox, Alejandro Garnacho will not be the last of United’s Class of 22 to break down the doors of the first-team dressing room.
The youngster, whose two goals in Wednesday’s final helped the club secure an 11th trophy in the competition, is already on the fringes of the first team.
And Cox believes his example can inspire others from the youth ranks to join him in becoming part of Ten Hag’s United reboot.
“Our kids are naturally hungry,” said Cox. “You don’t get this far through the journey without being hungry and having an intrinsic drive,.
“But when your mate makes a debut, it makes something that appears extraordinary, ordinary. When your mate does something, you believe you can do it too – role models that are so close to you.
“Sometimes we look into the past and we try to follow in the footsteps of Sir Bobby Charlton, but it’s hard to relate to someone that played so long ago you’ve maybe never even seen him play.
“But you can relate to your mate who is a year older or six months older, or the kid you sit next to in the dressing room. That’s just the beauty of this place.”
Winger Anthony Elanga, 20, a Sweden international, has been the tangible connection between academy and first team this season. But Teden Mengi, Shola Shoretire, Hannibal Mejbri and Garnacho have also bridged the gap between the U18 and U23 squads to the first team.
Of the current U18s Dan Gore, Sam Mather and Sam Murray impressed in
victory against Forest while good things remain expected of Charlie Mcneill and Joe Hugill.
Cox believes the Youth Cup victory - 30 years on from the success of the Class of 92 (left) which produced a glut of first-team regulars including Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes – gives some hope for the future after a poor campaign.
“This is obviously not going to be an easy season for most people at this club,” said Cox after securing the silverware. “But I think tonight it was a crystallisation of everything that’s good. You had Sir Alex in the stands. You had a full house and a supportive crowd.
“This football club is built on success and youth. It doesn’t matter in the short-term what goes off. In the long-term, those things don’t leave this football club.”