Man United’s Youth Stars Give Hope For The Future

The trip to Wolfsburg wasn’t a complete disaster for Manchester United. Although the first team were eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat, their U-19 side beat Wolfsburg 2-0. Unfortunately, the convincing victory didn’t stop their elimination from the UEFA Youth League.

Nicky Butt, who coaches United’s U-19s, has had to scrape together teams this season to play in the competition. United have players on loan to get more football than they’d get playing in the junior teams at Old Trafford. U-19 football is not as recognised in English football as it is on the continent, where considerable resources are poured into it. United’s youth system has issues that need addressing, though the club retains some excellent young footballers and determined coaches who want to help them develop. Keeping them is the challenge.

After the game in Wolfsburg, I spoke to Nicky Butt about four of the lads in his team: Axel Tuanzebe, Ro-Shaun Williams, Marcus Rashford and Callum Gribbin. Perhaps more than most, they represent a bright future for the club.

Central defender Tuanzebe turned 18 in November, soon after being called up to the substitutes bench for the goalless draw at Crystal Palace. He has also captained United’s U-19s this season.

“Axel you would say is a born captain, he is a leader and a really good lad,” explains Butt. “He is focused. He is the leader of the changing room in his age group. He is very pacy and a really good defender. He reminds me a lot of a Des Walker [former Nottingham Forest and England defender] kind of player, very hard to go past. He is one of those you just don’t want to play against.”