Kobbie Mainoo made his first-team debut for Manchester United at Old Trafford against Charlton and the youngster, who had a beaming smile etched across his face, said in his post-match interview that he'd at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night.
Mainoo discussed the importance of the Youth Cup, which he won last season with the Under-18s, and he vowed to be at Stoke to support his teammates from the terraces. It's understood the 17-year-old was keen to show support for his peers and that he was able to fulfil that promise. That highlights the youngster's attitude and it bodes well for his blossoming career at the club.
The midfielder is due to train with the first-team again on Thursday and Erik ten Hag started him against Charlton because he 'deserved it'. Mainoo is an example to the youngsters at the club and proof that a pathway to the first-team exists.
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At least one youth graduate has represented United's first-team or matchday squad for over 4,000 consecutive senior matches and Mainoo is the latest player to bridge that gap, which was a proud moment for his family.
A mature Mainoo described the Youth Cup 'as a big part' of his season last year and he said it 'developed him greatly'. It's likely that the current Under-18 players, some of whom he is close friends with, would have listened to that post-match interview.
The Youth Cup is the pinnacle of academy football and United are the defending champions in the competition, so the U18s did not need extra motivation against Stoke on Wednesday, but Mainoo's debut would have been discussed on the team bus.
Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have used the Youth Cup as a springboard, just like Gary Neville, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Ravel Morrison, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba did before them, and that's something the U18s are bound to know all about.
If you're good enough, you'll get an opportunity, and the youngsters were fighting to potentially earn that chance in the future against Stoke, on a cold, miserable and rainy Wednesday night, which the cliché would have you believe is the ultimate test of character.
U18s manager Travis Binnion, who also has taken some U21 games in the Papa John's Trophy this season, lined United up in their usual 4-3-3 formation for the match and there were starts for Sam Murray, Sonny Aljofree, Maxi Oyedele and Dan Gore.
All four of those players have had the experience of training with the first-team this season and they were supported across the pitch by younger players, who were hungry to make their mark in the competition, like Victor Musa and Ethan Williams on the wings.
Shea Lacey, who is just 15 years old, was also named on the bench. A Stoke analyst in the press box ahead of kick-off warned the hosts had fielded a strong side and he recommended following Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe under the floodlights.
Stoke started the match well but United matched their intensity and there was nothing between the two sides in the opening stages. It was a game of chess and Stoke were the first to make their move.
Tezgel, who wore the armband for Stoke, broke forward but his shot was tame. Elyh Harrison easily gathered the ball in between the sticks for United and it was the Reds' turn to move next, with Oyedele beginning to turn the screw in midfield.
Oyedele was playing as the No.6 in the midfield three and he might just be 'the next Mainoo'. Such comparisons can be unfair in academy football, but the youngster has enjoyed an excellent Youth Cup campaign, just like Mainoo did last season.
Mainoo is versatile in midfield and so is Oyedele, which academy staff consider important. The latter was impressive against Stoke, winning duels and passing with precision, and he stunned a small pocket of supporters with a piece of skill in the first half.
Shortly after the 25th minute, Oyedele received the ball and evaded the Stoke press with a Maradona turn, which promoted a roar from the crowd. Binnion had a perfect view of the turn on the touchline and he would have raised a smile.
Binnion was smiling again moments later with Gore causing problems around the area. Stoke were struggling to deal with his winding, confident runs forward and they were reduced to fouling the United captain.
United were searching for a breakthrough but their positive work was almost undone when Murray played a wayward pass back, which resulted in a golden opportunity through on goal for Stoke's Jack Griffiths, which he couldn't take.
Aljofree was also defending well alongside Louis Jackson, who were dealing with Stoke's physicality. It was a game that needed a moment of quality and Williams also provided that before the break when cutting the ball back for Musa.
The shot was cleared off the line and the whistle went for half-time. The chatter in the press box was about how the sides were evenly matched. It was a scrappy game and therefore not a surprise when Stoke scored a scrappy goal in the 57th minute.
The free-kick, which deflected, turned into the bottom right corner and Harrison, who had been excellent, was helpless. United's defence of their Youth Cup title was hanging by a thread and they had over 30 minutes to find a response.
Oyedele looked to drag his side back into the game with a long-range effort and Gore cut inside but dragged his effort wide moments later. United were becoming frustrated in the final third and they were running out of time to find an equaliser.
Stoke's goalkeeper, Tommy Simkin, made two strong saves in the closing stages and the Stoke analysts cheered. They sent instructions down to the touchline to improve their backline and whatever they said seemed to work.
Lacey, who celebrates his 16th birthday in April, was given minutes in the closing stage, but United could not find a goal and their Youth Cup defence is over. Lacey will be proud of the appearance regardless.
This U18 side might have failed to defend the title, but that is nothing to be ashamed of. There is talent in that side that promises to keep the club's record of giving youth players their debuts alive and Oyedele is making strides to make his.
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