Wayne Rooney believes it was as though Manchester United's famed youth academy 'didn't exist' during Jose Mourinho's time in charge of the club.
United have earned and continue to maintain an unrivalled reputation for producing players from within and giving them ample opportunities to shine on the biggest stage, with many going on to enjoy storied careers. As a result, the link between the senior side and the youth ranks was always close during the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, in which the fabled Class of 92 went on to win a historic treble in 1999.
Rooney was well accustomed to the strong relationship during his many years at Old Trafford under Ferguson but he admits that it completely disappeared when Mourinho took the helm in 2016, with Scott McTominay the only academy graduate to go on to play substantial minutes for the club after making his debut under the Portuguese.
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"The distance between the academy and the first team and the manager, especially under Mourinho, was huge," Rooney said on Monday Night Football. "It was almost as if they didn't exist, if you like.
"Having the relationship they had with Sir Alex for 26 years and then not being allowed anywhere near the first team… It's almost like there was a divorce between the first team and the academy."
United are now on the hunt for their next permanent manager following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November. Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag are the leading candidates, with Rooney believing the Argentine is the better pick.
"I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League - he knows the Premier League," he added. "At Tottenham, he brought a lot of young players through, at Southampton as well [he] brought a lot of young players through.
"If I'm choosing from one of them two, that's who I'd choose. I'd go with Pochettino and give him time."
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