Man Utd’s history is embedded in their youth system, and in Yuel Helafu, they have the perfect wonderkid for Michael Carrick.
There simply haven’t been enough games to go around for Michael Carrick to give chances to youngsters in the first team.
However, he has been a constant presence at academy fixtures, and if he does get the job permanently, which looks likely, then a pipeline for youngsters is expected.
Near the top of that line will be Yuel Helafu, whose unique skill set is ideal for Carrick’s tactical setup.
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Yuel Helafu’s unique skill set is a rarity in academy football
Academy football is largely characterised by two types of players. One is the physical monster, and the other is a technical maestro.
What gets coached with age and experience is footballing intelligence, positional play, and tactically intense roles like inverted full-back.
It’s why it’s such a shock to see Yuel Helafu perform the role of an inverted full-back with such composure and confidence at the academy level.
Despite joining the club at the start of this season, he has already been fast-tracked in a meteoric rise, becoming the first name on the teamsheet at the U18s level.
He has done so in a role that asks a lot of him tactically and physically, both of which he has managed to ace so far.
In Man Utd U18s’ recent loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League Cup final, Helafu played that role to perfection again.
He came inside with the ball when United were in possession, fortifying their buildup structure by providing an extra passing option.
From there, his ability on the ball shone, as he invited the press just so he could play beyond it, which is a quality that takes years to teach.
Out of possession, he alternated between staying wide to counter Palace’s wingers and coming inside to snuff out transition attacks down the middle.
In a single game, he played as a traditional full-back, a defensive winger, a central midfielder, and an overlapping wing-back.
That level of tactical expertise has seen him draw comparisons to Noussair Mazraoui, and it’s why he’s perfect for Carrick’s tactical setup.
Helafu is ideal for Carrick’s setup
Carrick’s tactical nous hasn’t received as much credit as he deserves, because his system has many interesting wrinkles.
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He has largely managed to make the most out of the players at his disposal right now, which is what a manager should do.
In an ideal world, a player like Helafu is perfect for him because of his lopsided full-back system.
In Carrick’s style of play, one full-back bombs up and down the wing, while the other tucks inside or moves to defensive midfield, depending on where the opposition’s main threat is.
The conservative full-back role is perfectly suited for Helafu, who can make a decision on the field where he is needed the most because of his intelligence.
With someone like Harry Amass on the opposite wing, who likes to attack and make runs in the final third, Carrick’s system will truly take shape.
It promises to be an exciting next season when youngsters like Amass and Helafu get a chance in the first team.
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