It has been a while since they played 'Glory, Glory Man United' at Old Trafford but the youngsters deserved it. The Manchester United academy is well run, with an impressive recruitment hit-rate, still producing first-team players and now 90 minutes away from silverware. In these lean years for the first-team, the academy has been the standout feature at the club.
Charlie McNeill and Alejandro Garnacho, recruited from Manchester City and Atletico Madrid respectively in 2020, played with an exuberance reminiscent of Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison in 2011. Extraordinarily, United haven't reached an FA Youth Cup final since that standout class.
McNeill and Garnacho celebrated the latter's goal bromantically. McNeill endured the disappointment of elimination to Liverpool last year when Garnacho was omitted from the squad. United youngsters have made a habit of channelling negatives into positives.
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They were practically strangers when Garnacho botched a two-on-one by carelessly overhitting a square pass at 2-0. With the game not won, McNeill gave his teammate the silent treatment and flashed a disapproving glare. McNeill pounced for a second to make it five goals in as many games in the Youth Cup.
Gorton-born McNeill used to be in the United academy before he moved to City in 2014, when the Blues offered to put his siblings in St Bede's College. He crossed the divide again 18 months ago for an initial fee of £750,000 that could rise to £1.5million. McNeill rejected the offer of a new contract at City and United coaches felt at the time the final fee would represent a 'bargain'. He has 29 goals in 28 Under-18 matches.
The attention on Garnacho, included in Argentina's senior squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers to ensure the Madrid-born forward does not represent Spain, benefitted McNeill, playing through the middle with Garnacho on the left. McNeill still exhibited his selfless centre forward play to pick out Garnacho at the far post after his goal, a presentable chance the 17-year-old squandered.
When Garnacho beat the Icelandic 'keeper Palmi Arinbjornsson, it was cleared off the line and Isak Hansen-Aaroen mis-hit on the rebound. Garnacho settled for converting his most arduous opening early in the second half, sizing up the imposing Dexter Lembikisa and outwitting him effortlessly to curl past the sizeable frame of Arinbjorsson.
United's youth staff will doubtless prefer to focus on the collective, for this was an outstanding team performance under genuine pressure against a physical side that play in the first team's image. Kobbie Mainoo, in midfield, was exceptional and superbly supported by Sam Mather and Dan Gore. United's coach, Travis Binnion, was motivational and determined throughout, refusing to let the pups rest.
Harry Maguire gave a speech in the dressing room prior to kick-off. The youngsters were also watched by Dean Henderson, football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher. The 2003 Youth Cup-winning captain David Jones sat in the press box.
Murtough, an enthusiastic presence for United's most memorable Youth Cup triumph in recent years against Chelsea in 2018, marvelled at the matchgoers the youth team had attracted, including a coterie from the singing section on normal matchdays. The official attendance was 6,133 and more should click through the turnstiles for the final - already scheduled for Old Trafford.
Murtough jointly ran the academy on an interim basis six seasons ago and has a unique understanding of its importance. The erstwhile academy head Nicky Butt and its incumbent, Nick Cox have transformed a neglected asset that is only lacking a meaningful milestone. It may not be long before the triumphant Youth Cup dates are chiselled onto the honours' board.
Chelsea have threatened United's status as record winners during their dominance over the last decade and potentially await in the final, pending their semi-final with Nottingham Forest. United interrupted Chelsea's hegemony by ejecting them in 2011 and 2018.
United could have called upon Shola Shoretire, a veteran of two Youth Cup campaigns and still eligible to participate as he turned 18 last month. Out of fairness, United's academy staff resisted the temptation of calling upon a talent who has already played a handful of times for the first team. Competition is already intense, with the prolific Joe Hugill recovering from an ankle injury.
Eight days on from his 'upset' at being denied a penalty in normal time and then missing one in the shootout, McNeill was predatory with his goal, lurking on the shoulder of the final man and anticipating Hansen-Aaroen's perceptive pass.
Mather, Gore and Mainoo oozed class with their proactive control, with Hansen-Aaroen's roaming a nuisance for Wolves' compact defence in a fine first-half only lacking more goals. McNeill's opposite number, Nathan Fraser, almost punished United for their profligacy with a lob that bounced off the upright as half-time loomed. The warning shot was noted by Garnacho shortly after the restart.
United: Vitek, Jurado, Bennett, Fredricson, Murray, Mainoo, Mather (Oyedele), Gore, Hansen-Aaroen (Forson), Garnacho, McNeill (Hugill).
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