If you want to be Manchester United manager then you need to be willing to bring through the youth.
Whether it’s the Busby Babes or the Class of ’92, United has a rich history of rewarding promising young players with a chance under the bright lights of Old Trafford.
United’s first team at the moment has Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Scott Mctominay, Kobbie Mainoo, and Dan Gore, just to name a few academy graduates.
In fact, United have featured an academy graduate in their first team for over 4000 consecutive games.
The last time United didn’t include a graduate in their squad was back in 1937 against Fulham, a truly outstanding record.
Ten Hag wants mirrored style across youth teams
According to an article from the Manchester Evening News, United’s Dutch boss is eager for every age group in the academy to follow the first team’s way of playing.
There are also steps being put in place for that mirroring to take place, this will require training sessions to be altered as a result.
Kobbie Mainoo has been the star of pre-season and it is his willingness and his adaptability to what the manager has asked of him that has reportedly impressed Erik ten Hag so much, according to the same report.
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Mainoo can be the example that other players in the academy can aspire to.
Gore, another midfielder from the academy, has also impressed and featured against Wrexham and was perhaps unfortunate to be sent off against the League Two side.
Mejbri next?
Another player who has impressed on the pre-season tour is Hannibal Mejbri. The Tunisian midfielder has added tactical awareness and adaptability to his game.
It’s a far cry from when the midfielder came on against Liverpool under Ralf Rangnick and, despite his enthusiasm, was reckless with his tackles and perhaps showing his inexperience.
It would seem the midfielder has listened to Ten Hag’s demands and is now seemingly part of the first-team plans with Fred and Scott Mctominay on the list that the club would sell if suitable offers arrive for the pair according to the Daily Mail.