JJ Gabriel has been the unequivocal star of Manchester United’s U18 side this season, but he isn’t the only player deserving of praise in Darren Fletcher’s side.
Manchester United’s route to the FA Youth Cup final was a drama-filled journey in which JJ Gabriel took many of the headlines.
This is hardly shocking, considering that at 15 years old, Gabriel won the U18 player of the season award for his remarkable performances playing three years up.
Gabriel is destined for the stars, but it isn’t just him deserving of praise for how United’s U18s have performed this season. Now, Darren Fletcher has praised more members of the team.
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Ahead of the cup final on Thursday night, Fletcher has previewed the clash by speaking with Manchester Evening News, in which he pointed out that this season’s success has been due to multiple performers, not just JJ Gabriel.
“People talk about JJ, Dan Armer, Amir Ibragimov, Albert Mills, Yuel Helafu, Godwill Kukonki and Noah Ajayi – all of them have had great seasons.
“Even some of the lads haven’t played as much when they’ve come in, like Jay McEvoy, Jariyah Shah, and Junior Brown, they’ve had fantastic seasons.”
Fletcher also praised Jim Thwaites individually.
“Jimmy’s had a great season, moving around to different positions as well,” Fletcher explained.
“We started him as a number six a little bit deeper. We were getting him on the ball, we encouraged him to improve his range of passing, and gave him the opportunities to do that.
“He’s just another who’s developed fantastically and been a real leader in the team as well. The second years have been brilliant for the first years in terms of showing that leadership, but I could speak about so many of them.”
Thwaites has been brilliant, earning himself first-team recognition thanks to the improvements under Fletcher, and he might even be about to make his debut for the club this month or over the summer.
In the same interview, Fletcher was also quick to applaud Chido Obi for his performances and improvements over the course of this season for United.
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Fletcher admits the importance of Michael Carrick’s attention to the academy
Also speaking during this interview, Fletcher added that he thinks Michael Carrick has played a role in United’s success at an academy level this season, merely by showing interest.
“Fundamentally, it’s getting out there and when people see that — when they see Travis and Michael at the game — it inspires the players.
“It shows them that this is a club thinking about young players, not just saying it. That’s throughout the history of the club: when you see that in action, it brings it to life. I think the parents like it. It’s so powerful, and Michael realises that.
“They’re so invested in every part of the club because they know it and they want it all to be successful.
“Of course, the first team is the most important, but everyone likes to see players thriving, staff thriving. We’re all trying to push and help each other and make the club a better place.”
Carrick paying so much attention to the academy games is a welcome move from the United head coach, after Ruben Amorim’s public insults toward the academy.
United as a club uses the academy, so this alone is a glowing reason why Fletcher should be made permanent at the club.
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