Manchester United has played a number of pre-season matches in 2019. The squad contained plenty of the established names, however there were also plenty of fresh faces aiming to make a big impression on head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speaking to media, United’s new head of first-team development Nicky Butt said it was amazing for the youngsters to be part of senior level experience.
“It’s amazing for the players to go on pre-season and the experience they get from that alone is invaluable really,” Butt said.
“When you go away, you see it. You know how big the club is but you never know until you go on tour as that’s when you realise what a big club it is worldwide.
“You get in part of a bubble here and are immune to that fact when you’re involved with United, whether it’s as a coach or a player. You’re in a cocoon, a bubble and it feels like a nice, little working-class small club, if you like.” Butt said.
Solskjaer has already handed starts to promising youngsters Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes, and Mason Greenwood. And the Norwegian coach has hinted that their promotion to the first team on tour was a reward for the hard work and attitude they have shown.
As for Chong, the 18-year-old youngster managed to make two Premier League appearances and one Champions League appearance for the Red Devils last season.
“It’s a chance for all the players to impress the manager. There’s a chance every time you play or even train with the team, every day is a chance to get into the first-team squad, whether or not it’s an EFL Trophy or Europa League game, a friendly in pre-season or just training.” Butt said.
“All the players there and it’s not only the four who went away, there are others who have all got a chance because the thing about Ole, Kieran [McKenna], Michael [Carrick] and Mike [Phelan] is they know the players. Certainly, Kieran was coaching them so they know all our players and it helps.” Butt added.
United will kick off the 2019/20 Premier League campaign with Chelsea at Old Trafford on August 11.
