Academy Briefing: Reds visit Munich site

PDP PLAYERS VISIT MANCHESTERPLATZ

Our Professional Development Phase enjoyed a fruitful five-day training camp at adidas HQ in Herzegonauch, Germany last week.

A squad of around 40 Under-18s and Under-21s players regularly go away at the start of their season, helping boys from different age groups to gel, get to know new staff members and continue to develop their understanding of what it takes to be a full-time footballer.

The PDP group is now back at Carrington, with some helping Ruben Amorim’s senior squad in their first weeks of pre-season.

The Academy sides themselves will soon begin friendly fixtures.

On their journey back from adidas HQ to Manchester, the United group in Germany visited Manchesterplatz and took a moment to remember the victims of the Munich Air Disaster, where eight United players were killed, as well as three members of staff, among 23 total fatalities.

Academy players at United are taught about the significance of the Busby Babes from an early age, and learn in more depth about the events in Munich in their Under-13s stage. The boys listen to talks from figures who remember Busby’s great team and learn about the wider world of the 1950s, as well as just United’s team.

Earlier this year, the U13s group played a memorial match with Liverpool, educating our rivals' youngsters on Munich, just as they done with us regarding the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster a year before.

A week later, the U13s travelled to Middlesborough to play a memorial tournament with Boro and Bishop Auckland, the amateur club who were of such great assistance to United back in 1958.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

While there are more fixtures to be announced, the Under-21s' fixture at Rochdale on Saturday 2 August (15:00 BST) is the only confirmed friendly for the Academy sides. Fans will be able to buy tickets — which are non-segregated — directly from Rochdale.

We’ll communicate any further matches as soon as possible.

LIFEBLOOD SHORT: COMING SOON

A new short film is coming from the much-loved Lifeblood series, documenting the United Academy with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access. Keep your eyes peeled for more information on the United App and ManUtd.com.

And if you’ve not yet watched any of our previous seven films so far, now’s your chance to catch up. You can watch every episode for here for free.