Post by Sky Sports 1 on Apr 1, 2007 10:32:33 GMT
Before focusing on the challenge of AS Roma in the Champions League quarter finals on Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson will turn his attentions to the fortunes of United’s Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup semi final against Arsenal.
The Reds are 1-0 down after the first leg at the Emirates Stadium and looking to set up a final against Liverpool with victory over the Gunners at Old Trafford on Monday night.
“I’m looking forward to the Youth Cup immensely,” he said. “Our boys have developed fantastically well this season. Paul McGuinness, our Youth Coach, has done a great job because at the start of the season I couldn’t see us winning the competition.”
With a plethora of youngsters out on loan this term, some players still eligible for the Academy side made the step up to Reserves. It meant that the first year Academy scholars – all aged 16 – were thrust into Under-18s football.
“To me, a few of the players were too small physically and too young,” added Sir Alex. “But one or two of them have developed very well physically over the last few months, like Sam Hewson and James Chester, who are strong athletes. Then, of course, there is Craig Cathcart, who we know all about.
“And to win the Youth Cup you always need a good goalkeeper. We're fortunate to have two excellent goalkeepers in Ben Amos and Ron-Robert Zieler. Ron-Robert was injured at the start of the season but he is back fit now, but the form of Ben Amos has been so good that he has been hard to displace.
“For those reasons, I’m confident we’ll win on Monday night because we have a good team. It will be an interesting battle between Arsenal’s young boys and ours. The young players at Arsenal get credit for being the best in the land, but I believe they’re not as good as our young players. We’re very pleased with them this season."
Sir Alex would like to see a bumper crowd at Old Trafford on Monday to support the developing players. The boss says supporters will witnes a number of youngsters - and one in particular - with a chance of making it as a top player at the club.
"The progress of this team has surprised me," he says. "We have got one outstanding player who has a magnificent chance of being a top player, but I won't tell you who it is. He's just a boy. If you get one or two through [the system] then you are doing well. I think at least half a dozen of them will get good careers in the game, hopefully at United.
"I really hope we get a good crowd at Old Trafford. It's an important issue here to have a good youth team. It's an integral part of the club's history and we should all want to support it."
Fans can pay on the gate for the semi final second leg tie with Arsenal on Monday 2 April. Tickets priced £5 adults, £2 concessions.
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"The progress of this team has surprised me," he says. "We have got one outstanding player who has a magnificent chance of being a top player, but I won't tell you who it is. He's just a boy."
;D That's great by Fergie, pulling in the crowds and seeing how the acadamy players handle the phsycological pressure.
Whether he's actually putting the spotlight on a single player or trying to get a great performance from them all i don't know, but it's probably Cathcart he's takling about as the one who will make it if any of them, seeing as he's already been named as being in the squad for Roma on Wednesday, after he plays on Monday.
The Reds are 1-0 down after the first leg at the Emirates Stadium and looking to set up a final against Liverpool with victory over the Gunners at Old Trafford on Monday night.
“I’m looking forward to the Youth Cup immensely,” he said. “Our boys have developed fantastically well this season. Paul McGuinness, our Youth Coach, has done a great job because at the start of the season I couldn’t see us winning the competition.”
With a plethora of youngsters out on loan this term, some players still eligible for the Academy side made the step up to Reserves. It meant that the first year Academy scholars – all aged 16 – were thrust into Under-18s football.
“To me, a few of the players were too small physically and too young,” added Sir Alex. “But one or two of them have developed very well physically over the last few months, like Sam Hewson and James Chester, who are strong athletes. Then, of course, there is Craig Cathcart, who we know all about.
“And to win the Youth Cup you always need a good goalkeeper. We're fortunate to have two excellent goalkeepers in Ben Amos and Ron-Robert Zieler. Ron-Robert was injured at the start of the season but he is back fit now, but the form of Ben Amos has been so good that he has been hard to displace.
“For those reasons, I’m confident we’ll win on Monday night because we have a good team. It will be an interesting battle between Arsenal’s young boys and ours. The young players at Arsenal get credit for being the best in the land, but I believe they’re not as good as our young players. We’re very pleased with them this season."
Sir Alex would like to see a bumper crowd at Old Trafford on Monday to support the developing players. The boss says supporters will witnes a number of youngsters - and one in particular - with a chance of making it as a top player at the club.
"The progress of this team has surprised me," he says. "We have got one outstanding player who has a magnificent chance of being a top player, but I won't tell you who it is. He's just a boy. If you get one or two through [the system] then you are doing well. I think at least half a dozen of them will get good careers in the game, hopefully at United.
"I really hope we get a good crowd at Old Trafford. It's an important issue here to have a good youth team. It's an integral part of the club's history and we should all want to support it."
Fans can pay on the gate for the semi final second leg tie with Arsenal on Monday 2 April. Tickets priced £5 adults, £2 concessions.
-------------------------------
"The progress of this team has surprised me," he says. "We have got one outstanding player who has a magnificent chance of being a top player, but I won't tell you who it is. He's just a boy."
;D That's great by Fergie, pulling in the crowds and seeing how the acadamy players handle the phsycological pressure.
Whether he's actually putting the spotlight on a single player or trying to get a great performance from them all i don't know, but it's probably Cathcart he's takling about as the one who will make it if any of them, seeing as he's already been named as being in the squad for Roma on Wednesday, after he plays on Monday.
