If there is something of an end-of-term feel around Manchester United at the moment, you would not know it from watching their players who are still old enough to be in sixth form. In front of a record crowd of 67,000, the under-18s ensured that Old Trafford would end a difficult, drifting season at first team level on a much-needed note of positivity, winning the 11th FA Youth Cup of the club’s history.
This feel-good victory, secured late by Alejandro Garnacho, meant this was Old Trafford but not as we have known it of late. There was a trophy presentation – remember those? – and it was joyous. The lap of honour was well-attended and applauded. The standing ovations for young players who put everything into the performance were long and heartfelt. Even the several pitch invaders who interrupted United’s post-match celebrations seemed to be carried away by security a little more gently than usual.
Garnacho’s two goals – one from the spot, one in stoppage time – and captain Rhys Bennett’s first-half header proved enough to overcome a hard-working Nottingham Forest side. Backed by 5,700 travelling supporters of their own, Forest were unable to stop United's youngsters from maintaining their proud tradition in this competition. Despite the advances of Chelsea and Manchester City’s academy systems over the past decade, still no club has won it more.
And encouragingly, the man guiding United in their new direction had a hand in this success. John Murtough, now driving United’s football operations in his role as football director, helped to lead an overhaul of the academy structure at a time when there were accusations of the club falling behind City and other rivals. From recruiting under-18s manager Travis Binnion to
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