One of Carrington’s most impressive players left media stunned as Manchester United‘s U18s thrashed rivals Liverpool 7-0 in the U18 Premier League.
Man Utd’s U18s thrash Liverpool
The present-day Man United side may not be firing on all cylinders, but their academy continues to produce some absolute gems. It’s been responsible for Marcus Rashford and, more recently, Kobbie Mainoo in recent years – not to mention Scott McTominay – and could have more young stars on the way.
The Red Devils’ U18s side even got some revenge for their first-team this weekend by thrashing Liverpool U18s 7-0 in ruthless fashion. Goals from Bendito Mantato, Louie Bradbury, Jim Thwaites, Samuel Lusale and a hat-trick from JJ Gabriel saw those at Carrington make a statement on Saturday afternoon.
Of course, the success of the academy has always been a priority for those at Old Trafford and Ruben Amorim recently ensured that he extended their record of having a homegrown gem in every matchday squad since 1937.
After handing Jack Fletcher a place on his bench against Tottenham Hotspur, Amorim told reporters: “It’s really important. I think again we are in the moment [where] if we are going to take some corners and succeed right away, it’s the wrong thing.
“There are some things especially in our club that we need to be bulletproof. It’s the way we behave, the way we feel the club and all these small things. We are not going to stop with the Academy players.”
It may not be too long before 15-year-old Gabriel gets the call to the first-team, either. The young forward left media stunned in an incredible display against Liverpool’s U18s.
JJ Gabriel “better than half” the Man Utd first-team, says reporter
Among those blown away by Gabriel was the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele, who went as far as claiming that Gabriel “looks better than half their first team” at Man United.
After netting a hat-trick, the teenage sensation has taken his total for the season to seven goals and one assist in nine appearances in the U18 Premier League.
It won’t be long before Gabriel is progressing through the ranks in Man United’s academy and he looks destined to make his mark on the first-team in years to come. If some believe he looks better than some of the current stars now, he may be a world-beater by the time he turns 18.
The future is still bright at Old Trafford even if Amorim’s first-team are struggling for consistency. Like it has done so often in the past, Man United’s academy could yet provide the spark that the Red Devils need to return to Europe’s top table.
