Erik ten Hag has a trump card for Sir Jim Ratcliffe decision on Manchester United manager

Youth. Courage. Success. The three pillars of Manchester United.

United have a rich history of believing in young players and Erik ten Hag's promotion of talent at Ajax was one of the reasons his interview at Old Trafford was a success. During Ten Hag's time in charge of United he's given five players - Charlie McNeill, Kobbie Mainoo, Dan Gore, Willy Kambwala and Omari Forson - their debuts for the first-team.

Alejandro Garnacho was handed his bow by Ralf Rangnick, but he's broken into the first-team under Ten Hag's guidance and the Dutchman been the manager responsible for his impressive development, which has seen the winger make 20 starts in the Premier League this season.

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Garnacho is an established first-team player and a huge academy success story. He was signed for a pittance from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2020 and he's proved to be a bargain. The 19-year-old has matured this term and his relocation to the right wing, a position which he'd never played before prior to facing Aston Villa, has gone seamlessly.

There was always a suspicion Garnacho would be as effective on the right and he's made that position his own, starting ahead of £86million purchase Antony. Garnacho was the only outfield player not to be given a single minute on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia in Ten Hag's first summer in charge but the Dutchman has been the perfect manager for a youngster who perhaps needed more guidance than others.

Ten Hag deserves huge praise for developing Garnacho and he's overseen the emergence of Mainoo, who has started 11 of United's 12 games in all competitions in