Gomes aims to take Paris high into Youth League

Tuesday 12 March 2019 10:30

Angel Gomes is looking to take his amazing experiences from the UEFA Champions League win at Paris Saint-Germain into another European trip this week.

The midfield playmaker was among the substitutes as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reds booked a place in the quarter-finals of the continent’s premier competition and enjoyed the celebrations in front of the travelling fans at the end of a dramatic tie.

The atmosphere will be less intense at Midtjylland in the UEFA Youth League, but the Under-19s will still be determined to go further than ever before in the tournament.
Angel's enjoying the experience of being with the first-team squad.

Gomes, who captained the side throughout the group stage, will take all the knowledge he is accruing into the battle against the Danish side.

"It was a great experience overall, obviously travelling and then being on the bench was even bigger for me and my family,” he told MUTV.

“It was a great experience, not just for me but all of the lads who came and got involved. I think there were eight players who have come through the Academy that came on the trip and it just shows how much the club has an interest in the youth. It is big for the club and it showed, everywhere, how great this club is.

"The more that come, the more it shows Man United. I think it was great for Mason [Greenwood] and Chongy [Tahith Chong] to be involved. It is an experience they will never forget as well. I have grown up with these boys, right from Under-9s to now. To see us all with the first team, travelling and getting some experiences, is amazing.

"Obviously, I have only watched from the sides and been in the crowd myself, so to be able to go out and celebrate with the fans was an amazing experience and it's something I will never forget.

"What was also massive for me was Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Eric [Cantona] coming in afterwards to shake hands and speak to us. They are massive, massive people and just to have them in the changing room. I think it got everybody a bit more excited and everyone was a bit overwhelmed really." 

The name Midtjylland, of course, conjures up memories of the game that launched Marcus Rashford’s senior career – the Europa League round-of-32 second-leg victory at Old Trafford in February, 2016.

Marcus is robbed by his team-mates after scoring on his debut against Midtjylland.

"I just remember being in the stands and hearing that something had happened to Anthony Martial, and Marcus was coming in,” recalled Gomes. "From then, the rest is just history! It was crazy to see him playing with us in the youth team, to then scoring two against Midtjylland. It was unbelievable.

"Marcus has been doing that for years [stepping up in Paris, when the pressure was on], really. I grew up with him in the Academy and I stayed with him in digs. I know what type of person he is and what character he has, so it didn't surprise me when he stepped up. I had no doubt that he would score."

The Youth League tie at MCH Arena, which kicks off on Wednesday at 13:00 GMT, will be played to a conclusion on the day with highlights set to be shown on MUTV and our Official App.

Largie Ramazani, James Garner and Nishan Burkart train indoors ahead of the Denmark trip.

"We have got a great squad,” added Gomes. “It’s a good group of lads, so I think everyone is quite confident and there is no doubt that we can't go out there and win. Everyone is ready.

”There is a group of us who always stay behind to practice set-pieces, whether it is free-kicks, corners or pens. So I think we are more than ready, if it goes to extra time, to take penalties."

The winners between Midtjylland and United will meet Porto or Tottenham in the quarter-finals.

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