Ten Hag tips teen to follow Garnacho to Man Utd stardom

Robin Bairner

• 4 May 2023 14:04 BST
• 5 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has tipped academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo as the next Old Trafford youngster to make his way into the first-team squad.

Man Utd is a club with a long-standing tradition of bringing youth players into the team, something that Ten Hag understands following his spell with Ajax, which is a club that thrives because of the quality of player that comes through the academy system.

This has been underlined by the manner in which Alejandro Garnacho has steadily made progress under Ten Hag.

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Now 18-year-old midfielder Mainoo, who has already featured three times for Man Utd’s first team in 2023 but is presently out injured, is set to make an even bigger impression at Old Trafford.

“We want to develop players into the first team. So I think we are also in a good way in that perspective: Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo is also on his way. There is a pathway to the first team - but they have to deserve it,” Ten Hag told the media.

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“I know the culture of Man Utd. I was involved in youth football for a long time and I met Man Utd several times in youth tournaments in the Netherlands. But also in the past everyone knew and talked about Busby Babes and also Generation 92.

“Man Utd has a big history of youth development and to develop them and progress them into the first team. In our talks last year, that was one of the points we talked about.”

Ten Hag on Garnacho

Ten Hag was speaking after Garnacho was awarded a new deal until 2029, and while the young Argentine has impressed, the manager has stressed that he still has steps to take.

“it's a new start, a restart, because now expectations will be higher, the demands will definitely be higher. He is on his way, he is a strong character and that's why he's there in the moment on this level and he did it by himself,” he said of the 18-year-old.

“Alejandro is that step beyond but now the demands will be even more. He has to compete for a starting XI position. Every time is the same: you have to cross limits and every time you have to go in the next level, we go with him in the challenge but most important is the player has to do it.”

Garnacho has played 31 times for Man Utd this season, scoring five goals and setting up six more.