Erik ten Hag influence, two debuts and Kobbie Mainoo progress - inside story of Manchester United's academy

When coach Mark Dempsey entered the press box for a quick post-match chat after a recent academy game at Old Trafford, he was warm, engaging and keen to focus on the positives from Manchester United's draw against Arsenal.

Dempsey was without key players and he picked a youthful side, with four players handed their full Premier League 2 debuts. It has been a transitional campaign for the Under-21s and coaches knew results would be difficult due to the age of the team.

On the surface, the U21s have regressed, but it's understood the season has still been considered a success internally. Sources have indicated there was never any panic at the results and that it 'pretty much went exactly to plan'.

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The U21s finished the PL2 season having conceded the most goals in the division and with nine fewer points than in 2021/22, but it's been stressed 'individual player development is always key' and that winning individual games is not the priority.

That stance has been tested, especially when just a few miles across Manchester, Manchester City successfully defended their PL2 title, but staff believe the club previously held players back for the sake of results when that was wrong.

The word 'success' has a clear definition in the senior game but it's not that simple in youth football. It's understood the main purpose of the club's academy is to develop players to form the core of a winning first team and it's felt that is being achieved.

Erik ten Hag has given Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo the chance to spend the season around the first team and the pair have been given opportunities to make the senior squad for important games, like against Barcelona at Camp