Harry Diamond
Axel Tuanzebe has revealed the desire of Manchester United’s current youngsters to build a new foundation and ‘replicate’ the success of the club’s famed Class of 92.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided opportunities for several of the club’s best academy graduates this season with Tuanzebe amongst a host of youthful stars to have featured in the first-team, Manchester United maintaining their tradition of sourcing talent from within the club’s academy ranks.
United reached an unrivalled academy milestone during December’s Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford, the Red Devils reaching 4000 senior games in succession with a youth graduate featuring in their matchday squad.
Tuanzebe has opened up on the ambitions of the club’s current crop of academy graduates and is hopeful the contingent can form the core part of a successful side, similar to the way United’s Class of 92 – Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville – provided the foundations for a dominant era under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.
“It’s just like the Class of 92, that’s something we’ve been wanting to replicate,” Tuanzebe told United’s official website.
“This group of lads now that we have coming through, the oldest being Andreas [Pereira] and Scott [McTominay], the youngest being Angel [Gomes], Jimmy [James Garner], Brandon and Mase [Mason Greenwood], that bunch there can build the new foundation for the club.
“We have the club’s identity installed in us. We help portray that identity to foreign players and help teach them the way of our club and to become better people, better players.
“It’s something that’s been the club’s identity for many, many years and I’m sure there’ll be more players to come through.”
‘Devastated’ – Neville recalls Sir Alex Ferguson flogging three of the Class of 92
See also – Five of Manchester United’s best ever academy graduates