On Monday, our talented Under-18s side — reigning English champions — will continue writing their own chapter in the wonderful tale of Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup.
With three five-goal wins and a dramatic extra-time triumph at Arsenal, confidence is high among our young Reds.
“Everyone’s really excited about the game,”
said lead coach Adam Lawrence.
“This competition obviously means a lot to the players and the club, and to get to this stage of it and be playing in a really good semi-final game against really good opposition in Aston Villa at Villa Park, there’s not much to not get excited about!
“We need to be really focused around our work and what we’re doing and our planning and preparation around the game but there’s definitely a buzz around the group and the training ground in general.
“The players are really aware of the players who’ve played in this in the past and the success we’ve had in the competition. I think the boys want to give the best account of themselves and every youth-team player remembers their Youth Cup years. There’s a lot that goes on within the programme and a lot of competitions, but the FA Youth Cup is one that the boys definitely look forward to and enjoy.”
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
With apologies to MUTV subscribers, we are unable to show Monday’s game due to FA regulations. Aston Villa, as the home team, are permitted to do so, and the FA will stream the 19:00 BST kick-off on their YouTube channel and the FA Player.
Instead, we will offer updates, interviews, highlights and reaction from Villa Park.
Fans wishing to attend the game are encouraged to do so and can buy their tickets from Aston Villa’s website, here. Please buy your tickets in sections B2 and B3, where our supporters have been asked to congregate.
The support of the travelling Reds at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in the quarter-final meant a lot to the players and staff.
“There was a nice moment — it wasn’t nice at the time! — when we were 2-1 down and it was just in that period where we looked like we might be running out of ideas and you could hear singing coming from the crowd,”
Lawrence recalled.
“And I realised it was the Man United fans, it wasn’t the Arsenal fans!
“People can’t take it for granted how much the players appreciate the support from all the supporters and that extra bit of energy that it gives them.”
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
“The tie is nicely balanced in terms of what you’d expect in this competition,” Lawrence said.
“It’s two really good teams littered with good players. It’s about performing on the day. I think it’ll be a really good spectacle and advert for youth football and, naturally, we want to put in a performance and get across the line.”
Furthermore, United and Villa rarely meet at this age group, as we compete in the Under-18 Premier League northern division, with Villa in the southern. While the teams have faced off in a friendly in recent years, it’s a fantastic opportunity for both sides to come up against new direct opponents.
WHAT THE PLAYERS HAVE SAID
“Last season was very disappointing to get knocked out in round four,”
said right-back Jaydan Kamason at Old Trafford, when previewing the game for us.
“We were the favourites and we fell short. This season, we’ve started really well. There’s still a long way to go in the semis and the final but we have scored a lot of goals, we’ve played well as a team, and we want to keep that going at Villa Park.
“I think the competition just holds a lot of weight. It’s a very prestigious tournament and, obviously, United have won a lot of Youth Cups in the past. We want to be our own team. Everyone’s watching when you play in the Youth Cup, especially when you get to the latter rounds, and we want to show what we’re capable of.”
THE STORY SO FAR
ROUND THREE: 5-1 v COVENTRY CITY (Biancheri 3, Obi 2) – 18 December
Seeking to right the wrong of both last season’s early exit and the previous week’s UEFA Youth League defeat, United wasted little time by scoring three goals in the opening 13 minutes.
“It’s always nice to get a dominant performance in the first game,” reviewed Lawrence.
“The boys attacked them in a variety of ways. Once we got that lead, it was about the good habits, being professional in the right moments. We did that, killed the game off and were comfortable.”
ROUND FOUR: 5-2 v PRESTON NORTH END (J. Fletcher, Munro, Obi 2, Ibragimov) – 17 January
Another fast start at Leigh established a four-goal half-time lead against PNE, who had put four past Liverpool in the previous round. United overcame the visitors’ second-half resurgence to triumph.
“The boys got into a rhythm well,” Lawrence said.
“With a four-goal half-time lead you want to maintain that, but there’s some lessons for our lads because Preston did well. They tested us.”
ROUND FIVE: 5-1 v CHELSEA (Obi 3, Scanlon 2) – 12 February
After going behind, United showed grit, composure and then real quality to establish a 3-1 half-time lead and prove themselves against the toughest opposition yet. James Scanlon scored two and Chido Obi a clinical hat-trick in an impressive, hard-working team performance that left little doubt as to United’s potential for further Youth Cup success.
“It was a real team effort,”
explained Lawrence.
“But also a really good night for the goalscorers. Obviously, Chido is a natural goalscorer, but I was really pleased with his link-up play – not just stretching and running in behind but recognising when to show into feet, how to use his body to shield the ball and when to bring others into play. And it was nice for Scanners because he got the rewards for the runs he was making.”
QUARTER-FINAL: 3-2 v ARSENAL (J. Fletcher, Kamason, Mantato) - 28 February
Jack Fletcher opened the scoring in north London but the hosts turned the game around, forcing Lawrence’s side into a typical United comeback. Kamason’s excellent finish ensured an additional 30 minutes, during which substitute Bendito Mantato scored the winner.
ASTON VILLA’S JOURNEY
Monday’s opponents are in their first semi-final since last winning the competition in 2021.
Jimmy Shan’s side began this year’s campaign with comprehensive victories over Accrington Stanley (6-0) and Newcastle United (4-0) before a tighter 3-2 win over Bristol City in the fifth round. Mason Cotcher was the hero on that day with a hat-trick in a three-goal comeback.
Their quarter-final was a little more comfortable, with the Villans seeing Plymouth Argyle off 3-0 at Villa Park.
Aston Villa are four-time Youth Cup winners, having lifted the trophy in 1972, 1980, 2002 and 2021, and finished runners-up on a further three occasions in 1978, 2004 and 2010.
FA YOUTH CUP FORMAT
The FA Youth Cup mirrors the format of the FA Cup, the world’s longest-running national football competition, first played in the 1871/72 season. The Youth Cup began some time later in 1952, designed to encourage development of young players at clubs across the country.
Premier League and Championship sides join the competition at the third-round stage. The games are one-off occasions and, should the match be drawn after 90 minutes, an extra-time period of 30 minutes is played, with a penalty shootout following if necessary.
All players born on or after 1 September 2006 are eligible for selection in the FA Youth Cup, meaning players who are 18 or under.
WHO WILL THE WINNERS PLAY?
The winners of Aston Villa v Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup semi-final will host the winner of Manchester City v Watford in the final.
FA YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINALS
Aston Villa v Manchester United — Monday 31 March (19:00 BST) — Villa Park
Watford v Manchester City — Thursday 10 April (19:00 BST) — Vicarage Road