Man United midfielder Ander Hererra was gleaming in his assessment of the academy stars which have been on show during The International Champions Cup.
The Red Devil’s have endured mixed fortunes on their US pre-season tour this summer, losing heavily to Liverpool but beating Real Madrid and Milan, as well as posting two drab draws against San Jose Earthquakes and Club America respectively.
Good way to end the ?? tour , thanks to all our American fans, we feel really loved over there ? pic.twitter.com/o5i8AilZAA
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) August 1, 2018
Manager Jose Mourinho has cut a miserable and unenthused figure on the touchline, often complaining to the media about having to use the youngsters in the absence of the club’s more well known senior players, many of whom are still on holiday following the World Cup.
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But Ander Herrera has insisted that it hasn’t all been doom and gloom for the squad this summer, stating his admiration of the academy players which have stepped up to the plate and have shown they could one day replace the club’s current senior stars, as reported by Manchester United’s official website.
The Spaniard himself has racked up 441 minutes over the course of United’s five games in the states and was therefore well placed to judge the club’s next generation of talent.
“It has been very good for them,” said Herrera, as per manutd.com.
“Not intense in terms of minutes because they haven’t played too much, but every training session they have learned a lot.
“I want to say ‘thank you’ to them because they have been amazing with us, helping in every training session. I think Manchester United fans can be really calm and assured that these kids will one day kick us out, because they have the quality to do it.”
United have a long and proud history of promoting youth and local talent, with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers playing key roles in their most successful periods under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Jose Mourinho’s side open their latest Premier League campaign in eight days’ time against Leicester City at Old Trafford, with Herrera once again likely to feature prominently as the rest of the squad make their late returns.
With players like Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard perhaps also likely to return late after long World Cup campaigns this summer, one or two young players making the grade now would certainly be good timing.