United host innovative Academy tournament

The Academy invited Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers to join a young Reds side in the four-team competition.

Each side played three 50-minute group games across Thursday and Friday, with United beating Spurs 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Chelsea before narrowly losing to Wolves in our final game.

Chelsea and Wolves emerged with the highest points tallies after the group matches were completed, and in the resulting final, our visitors from West London were the eventual winners on penalties after a 3-3 draw with their opponents from the Midlands. 

The tournament not only provided an excellent development opportunity, with a number of United’s Under-16s and Under-15s players taking part, but also gave the team the chance to get competitive minutes into their legs with the Under-18 Premier League season now less than a week away.

United’s Under-18s kick off the campaign with early fixtures against traditional rivals, starting with a short trip to Manchester City on 14 August before Liverpool are welcomed to Carrington a week later. A game at Leeds United’s Thorp Arch Complex then follows before the month is out.

Speaking after the tournament, Nick Cox, Head of Academy, said: "This was a fantastic event enjoyed by all four of the teams in attendance. Short games and rolling subs gave a different experience to our players and will of course prepare them well as we look ahead to the start of the season.

"The tournament is just one example of our innovative games programme, which seeks to provide our players with a wide range of fixtures and match experiences that will significantly aid their development."

Manchester United Under-18 Summer Tournament results:

Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
United 2-1 Spurs
United 2-2 Chelsea
Spurs 0-2 Wolves
United 0-1 Wolves
Spurs 0-1 Chelsea

Final: Chelsea 3-3 Wolves (Chelsea won on penalties)