‘Youngsters should follow own paths...’
TUANZEBE’S WORDS OF WISDOM TO KIDS AT OLD TRAFFORD
AXEL Tuanzebe has urged United youngsters to consider what is best for themselves before making any decisions on their future at the club.
The 22-year-old defender has established himself as a first-team member at Old Trafford following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival at the club.
Tuanzebe improved his chances of success at United by undergoing two loan spells at Aston Villa in the Championship, where he played a big role in their eventual promotion to the Premier League.
He has made steady progress despite being affected by injury this season and even captained the first team in their Carabao Cup victory against Rochdale earlier in the campaign.
The success of Tuanzebe has led many other youngsters to be linked with a move away from the club when the transfer window opens, but he has urged each hopeful to carefully consider their options before committing to a loan move away from Old Trafford.
“Everyone has their own individual paths, depending on how much they want it, how hard they work, so it all depends on the individual,” Tuanzebe said.
“I think sticking to the club tradition, ethos, mentality, energy it helps all the same because you can always identify an academy player from someone that has been brought in.
“If you look at someone like Timbo (Fosu-Mensah) he played a couple of games then went on loan. It just depends on where you are at.
“Managers, changes of systems, and what best suits you and how you best suit the team. Young players need to know that not everyone is going to make it into the first-team, so you shouldn’t be disheartened but there is another pathway where you could go to another club and excel over there. So you should concentrate on yourself and understand your pathway is different.”
Tuanzebe, meanwhile, agrees with Eric Bailly that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s past playing experience has made life easier for him at United.
Team morale was restored at Old Trafford following the appointment of the club legend after the sacking of
Jose Mourinho in December 2018.
United’s initial decision to appoint Solskjaer was made ‘to put smiles back on faces’ and speaking last week Bailly admitted the club is benefiting from having a former toplevel footballer in charge.
“Yeah, it’s important being able to work with someone who is a former player,” Bailly told ESPN FC.
“Someone who understands the players’ situations, understands all the things that can happen from time to time.”
And Tuanzebe agrees, saying: “He has an understanding of the players himself.
“It is a lot easier. He knows how people feel when in certain times and he knows how to help the individual adapt to the circumstances.
“For me he has been fundamental. We have had a sit down, we have talked about my future and what destinations I want to be reaching, and he has been really good to me.”