Manchester United can save their season with academy trophy amid Ralf Rangnick message

Manchester United fans have not had an enjoyable season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November, marking the end of the three-year project they had supported, the club crashed out of every cup competition and now they are set to miss out on a Champions League place for next season.

And with Manchester City and Liverpool still competing for the league, with the latter in the mix for a potential quadruple, it is a United fan's worst nightmare currently. The hope is that the appointment of Erik ten Hag will usher in a new era at United, but that will not begin till next season and that still feels so far away.

United fans' disappointment with this season has also reflected in how the fanbase has become disillusioned with the first-team squad. So it is a good thing that the youth team have been impressing when the senior team could not.

READ MORE: Manchester United transfer timeline could see Erik ten Hag land top target

United's Under-18 team have reached the final of the FA Youth Cup and they will play Nottingham Forest's Under-18s. And to top off the occasion, the fixture will be played at Old Trafford.

United have been selling tickets for the final for weeks and more than 50,000 fans will be in attendance. The high attendance and buzz on social media reflect how the fans are feeling about the game.

The academy has always been a cornerstone for United, with a graduate being part of the first-team squad for more than 70 years and some of the club's best players, such as the Class of 92, having come through the club's youth ranks. Alejandro Garnacho is the latest to join this exclusive list and, with an appearance in the final, will join an exclusive group of players who made their first-team debut before appearing