Manchester United’s youngsters will be aiming to emulate the famed 'Class of 92' as they look to create their own piece of history this week.
United’s Under-18s will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of some of the club’s great names of the past by lifting the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday. The Reds’ latest crop take on Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, with United captain Rhys Bennett knowing he and his team-mates have the chance to write another chapter in the club’s illustrious history.
It’s 30 years since that famous set of youngsters, including such names as Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, emerged onto the scene by lifting the cup against Crystal Palace. All those players went on to become household names, and drove United into an era of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Bennett will be hoping for similar for himself and his team-mates. Moreover, it gives United’s youngsters the chance to end what has been a disappointing year at Old Trafford with a much-needed note of optimism.
“It’s unbelievable what that Class of 92 went on to do,” Bennett said (via the Express). “They are deep in this club’s history and having role models like that and seeing what they’ve achieved over the years gives you a massive confidence boost.
“Hopefully we can put our little stamp on United’s history, it would be an amazing feeling to do so. But if we keep working hard it shows you can get those opportunities.
“We know what this means to the club and means to us. It’s one of the biggest competitions, if not the biggest competition, you can win at youth-team level. To say that we could win this trophy is unbelievable.
“The players who have won it are high-level players. That what we strive to do. It’s never going to be easy but it gives us a big boost in our careers. We can always take that with us wherever we go.”
Having made their way past Scunthorpe, Reading, Everton, Leicester and Wolves on their way to the final, United are set to play in front of a bumper 60,000-strong crowd at Old Trafford. With the club’s youngsters more used to playing in front of “20 or 30” spectators, Bennett is relishing the opportunity to play on the biggest of stages.
“It’s the closest you’re going to get to the first-team environment playing in the academy at 17 or 18 – 60,000 at Old Trafford, you never know how many times you’re going to play in front of a crowd like that. We’ve just got to take this opportunity and take everything in on the night like we have done in previous rounds.”
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