Erik ten Hag will turn to video in a bid to run the rule of some of Manchester United's future stars.
The meticulous Dutchman will get United to send him a recording of the club's youth team FA Cup win this week, as first reported in the Daily Star, so he can study those who might have impressed. The incoming United boss is keen to cast his eye over some of United's brightest talents ahead of his arrival at Old Trafford in June.
United's U18 side beat their Nottingham Forest counterparts 3-1 in front of almost 70,000 fans at Old Trafford on Wednesday night to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2011.
Ten Hag was unable to watch the triumph because he was leading Ajax to their 36th Dutch title in what was his final act in charge. But Ten Hag will sit down to watch a video of the action in Manchester to see if there are some members of the side he can promote in the future. These could include captain Rhys Bennett, Kobbie Mainoo, Charlie McNeill and Alejandro Garnacho, who scored twice in the second half to seal the win for United.
Ten Hag has forged a reputation for bringing through youth at Ajax to make them a force in Europe once again. He has worked with the likes of current United midfielder Donny Van de Beek along with Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt, while more recently he has mentored rising stars including Lisandro Martinez, Antony and David Neres.
This is one of the reasons United bosses have turned to him in the hope he can rebuild a broken United side and make the club successful again. Ten Hag will assess his new squad next month when he arrives in Manchester and is expected to make some significant signings this summer.
But he is also keen to develop some of the young talent the club already has, after telling United CEO Richard Arnold he will not be able to spend his way to the top.
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United's young players basked in the glory of the victory which cheered up the club's fanbase after a miserable campaign at senior level. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” captain Bennett told United's website when asked about winning the competition. “It’s stuff I’ve dreamt of since being a kid, since I started at this club, it’s all I’ve ever dreamt of. To win the FA Youth Cup is just a massive achievement.”
United defender Sam Murray said: “Speechless to be fair, it’s magical. “There’s nothing that can describe the feeling, 3-1 at the end, you dream of this. You can’t really use words to describe how it feels. I watched YouTube videos [of people playing at a full Old Trafford] as a kid and you don’t even know if it’s going to happen.
"All of us have done it tonight and I’m unbelievably proud of everyone. To do it with the lads that you’ve grown up with is absolutely special.”
