Thomas Hein
With such a big final coming up in a few days, not many would judge Jose Mourinho for fielding such a young team against Crystal Palace. In fact, four players were given their first top-flight start at United and one of those, Josh Harrop scored on his debut for us.
This was the youngest Manchester United line-up in Premier League history as the average age of the side was 22 years and 284 days.
The result was purely academical as the game against Ajax is more important. We win the Europa League, we reach the Champions League, we lose, we are playing in the Europa League again next season and no one wants that.
Paul Pogba got the other goal of the game but the talk of the town was the number of young players in the side and Twitter certainly was lit with many reactions.
Josh Harrop played his first game of the season today and managed to equal Jesse Lingard’s tally of one goal for the league season.
— ㅤ (@UnitedReligion) May 21, 2017
Angel Gomes completed more passes (9) in the final third of the pitch in 6 minutes than Rooney managed (7) in 88 minutes. pic.twitter.com/yOts3uA4H6
— Manchester United (@ManUtdChannel) May 21, 2017
He was a ball boy for Manchester United earlier this season and now he’s made his debut at the age of 16. Angel Gomes, The Future pic.twitter.com/k22inFnQb9
— BaillyDaBeast (@beast_bailly) May 21, 2017
What a photo. What the club is built on. As Sir Matt Busby said if they are good enough, they are old enough pic.twitter.com/0Hn5IOMrOM
— United Watch (@United_Watch_) May 21, 2017
16 years old.
// @agomes_47 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/mqZOcxwuVJ— ManUnitedZone™ (@ManUnitedZone_) May 21, 2017
United look 10x better with more youth in their side!
— BaillyDaBeast (@beast_bailly) May 21, 2017
“Jose Mourinho doesn’t give youth a chance.” pic.twitter.com/y8t1sAp8w7
— Manchester United (@ManUtdChannel) May 21, 2017
8 players in Man United’s starting XI today have played for our academy + 4 players are making their full debut. Always believe in the youth pic.twitter.com/DjGYxFlKl4
— The Peoples Person (@PeoplesPerson_) May 21, 2017
The biggest ever attendance at a youth match with 75,000 fans cheer on the United youth team at Old Trafford.
C’MON UNITED #MUFC pic.twitter.com/8V3Li2Sd1T
— Fergie’s Fledglings (@RedDevilTimes) May 21, 2017
This is such a delight to watch. Youth players who understand each other and are fully taking their opportunity. Love it!
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) May 21, 2017
Heard Utd are playing a youth team so thought we’d pop down see if we can get a game pic.twitter.com/Nqb8zhmABD
— Michael O’Hare (@hairmetalchef) May 21, 2017
