"Show them the future of Manchester United!"
“Go and show them that this is the future of Manchester United!”
That’s what you’ll hear from a rare position inside a United dressing room in the latest Lifeblood film from MUTV. One-time Academy player and now coach Paul McShane is geeing up the next generation — the future Reds — for the first of two challenging games in the heat of Hong Kong, where thousands of local Reds gathered to watch on.
Lifeblood: U16s in Hong Kong is available to watch for all registered users from 19:00 BST on Friday 11 October. The 20-minute film features club greats Dimitar Berbatov and John O’Shea, who accompanied the Academy team on the latest annual trip to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
'We want to see winning behaviours'
LIFEBLOOD SHORT CLIP | Watch the story of matchday one for our fledgling Under-16s in Hong Kong...
“It’s two unbelievable game experiences,” explains U16s coach Martin Drury, who has now become first-team coach at West Brom, in the clip below.
“We come here for all these things you just can’t replicate or create in England and I think the players and staff are grateful that we’re able to do this.”
The trip is not just about football. It encapsulates the overriding mission of United’s Academy: to provide life-enriching experiences through sport for young, talented footballers while they attempt to maximise their high potential. And the latest Lifeblood film shows that, with cultural experiences shared with locals, trips up to see a Buddha statue and martial arts training. But ultimately there is a core focus on football development. And playing in Hong Kong provides several unique challenges.
After defeating Hong Kong’s Premier Youth League Select XI by one goal in our first game out there, two young Reds give their analysis and thoughts in the film.
“It’s hard because it’s different to what we normally get at Carrington,” Luca says.
“The grass, the weather, the fans, everything. So it’s hard to adapt sometimes but we did well and got the result in the end.”
'Two wins in three days - be proud!'
LIFEBLOOD SHORT CLIP | In challenging conditions - and before big crowds - our U16s earned two wins in three days...
And that’s the key. This trip helps the young players lucky enough to be on them to become adaptable as well as learning how to represent United. There are reminders of how to do that throughout the trip and the film.
After winning, Drury tells his players “Smiles on faces, chests out, representing Man United.”
'Lifeblood Short: U16s in Hong Kong' will be available on demand from 19:00 BST on Friday 11 October for all registered users on ManUtd.com and the United App. Register now to watch on Friday.