Youth Cup is ‘an important tradition’

Travis Binnion’s Under-18s will take on Leicester City at the Theatre of Dreams at 19:00 GMT, with a place in the last four of the coveted youth competition at stake. 

As someone who has represented United in the tournament during the previous campaigns of 2018/19 and 2019/20, Elanga understands the significance of it to everyone involved. 

“It’s an important competition and one I’ve played in. I would love to play again if I had the opportunity to,” he says ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final with the Foxes. 

“Obviously for the young lads, it’s about taking it all in, at Old Trafford. There will be a lot of people watching but there is no pressure, it’s about going out there and enjoying themselves. 

“It’s an amazing competition. It’s an important tradition for the club. The club have won it many, many times in the past.”

United are the most successful club in the competition’s history, winning it 10 times in total, with our last success coming back in 2011. 

This year’s side have already beaten Scunthorpe United, Reading and Everton to get to this stage and now will be aiming to take that next step into the semi-finals, in front of a home crowd at Old Trafford, come Thursday evening.

That’s nothing new for the young Reds however, with the first and most recent of those wins coming at the Theatre of Dreams, something Elanga believes the team will be able to take confidence from going into the visit of Leicester. 

“They beat Everton and it was a really good win and we scored some nice goals so they will, for sure, take confidence from playing at Old Trafford before.

“Now they know how it will be and how the atmosphere will be."

A limited number of tickets remain available for the tie in M16, and you can secure yours for free here, up until 09:00 GMT on the morning of the game.

Elanga has our Champions League last 16 first-leg trip to Atletico Madrid just under 24 hours earlier to focus on first but gave this response when asked if he’ll be keeping a close eye on proceedings in the Youth Cup, on the following evening.

“For sure! I’ll be there watching!”