'It's the heart and soul' - Sir Alex Ferguson heaps praise on Man Utd stars Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho as legend praises young duo's 'composure and confidence'

Speaking at a golf event, Ferguson was asked by TikToker Jamal Niaz about the impact of Mainoo, 19, and Garnacho, 20, in recent months. The legendary former manager pointed to one of the most ingrained Manchester United values.

Having become increasingly involved in the United first-team in 2022-23, Garnacho made 50 appearances across all competitions last season and scored 10 goals. He was also part of Argentina's Copa America-winning squad this summer. Mainoo followed suit, becoming an undroppable starter eight months ago, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final and making himself indispensable for England at Euro 2024. Both were FA Youth Cup winners as recently as 2022, a competition that has been held in high esteem at Old Trafford since its 1952 inception.

"It's the foundation isn’t it?" Ferguson said. "It's the heart and soul of what Manchester United has been since the days of Sir Matt Busby, who started the whole process of trusting young players playing. They're young. What they’re showing at the moment, the composure and confidence to play in the first-team, and not be daunted by it. In a way, it shows you the kind of courage they have."

Manchester United founded a youth team back in 1938 amid an ambition to create side composed entirely of local players. And while times have changed drastically, the club has continued to include at least one home-grown player from the academy for every single first-team game in the 80-plus years since. The idea of utilising young talent became an unshakeable philosophy under Busby from the late 1940s onwards and was revived in spectacular fashion by Ferguson in the late 1980s. Ethan Wheatley became the 250th academy graduate to debut for the senior side when he came off the bench in a Premier League game against Sheffield United in April.

The question that every United fans wants to know is whether, with a team now featuring exciting young talent across the board in Mainoo, Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, manager Erik ten Hag can mastermind an overdue return to the pinnacle of both English and European football.