WE WANT TO BE CLASS ACTS... JUST LIKE ‘92

Rhys’ United kids aim to lift trophy and morale

MANCHESTER UNITED’S kids want to emulate the Class of 92 by lifting the FA Youth Cup and morale at Old Trafford.

Thirty years on from when Gary Neville and Co first made their mark, the latest crop of talent from the academy, led by captain Rhys Bennett, take on Nottingham Forest in the final at the theatre of Dreams tonight.

And while Bennett is hoping it provides a similar springboard for careers, his side are also hoping to deliver a late season boost for the club at the end of a dismal year.

“It’s unbelievable what that Class of 92 went on to do, said Bennett. “They are deep in this club’s history and having role models like that and seeing what they’ve achieved over the years gives you a massive confidence boost.

“Hopefully we can put our little stamp on United’s history, it would be an amazing feeling to do so. But if you keep working hard it shows you can get those opportunities.”

In 1992 a team led by Gary Neville and featuring Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, triumphed over Crystal Palace.

In 2011 Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison (below) were in the team which lifted the trophy and the recent history of finals is littered with players who have gone on to international recognition.

The chance to follow in such illustrious footsteps is an opportunity which Bennett insisted his team-mates are determined to grab.

“We know what this means to the club and means to us,” he added. “It’s one of the biggest competitions, if not the biggest competition, you can win at youth-team level.

“To say that we could win this trophy is unbelievable. The players who have won it are high-level players. That’s what we strive to do. It’s never going to be easy but it gives us a big boost in our careers.

“We can always take that with us wherever we go.”

United have sold more than 60,000 tickets for tonight’s final at £1 each and will donate all the cash to their Manchester United Foundation, supporting local communities.

In comparison to the usual “20 or 30” who usually go along to the Under-18 matches, Bennett admitted it was going to be an amazing experience.

United have beaten Scunthorpe, Reading, Everton, Leicester and Wolves on route to tonight’s final.

While Forest KO’d Chelsea – winners seven times in the last 12 years – to reach their first final.

Bennett said: “It’s the closest you’re going to get to the firstteam environment playing in the academy at 17 or 18 – 60,000 at Old Trafford, you never know how many times you’re going to play in front of a crowd like that.

“We’ve just got to take this opportunity and take everything in on the night like we have done in previous rounds.”