1
Manchester United have announced a packed summer schedule for the youth teams with tournaments and friendlies.
United have so far confirmed participation in three tournaments and four friendlies across the professional development phase age groups.
The u16s, including some u17s, will first be heading to Northern Ireland to take part in the SuperCupNI which kicks off tomorrow.
Further u18s friendlies with Charlton, Chelsea, and Chelsea have also been confirmed to go alongside this week’s United XI friendly with Chester which will consist of a mixed u18s and u21s squad.
August will also see the u19s head abroad for two tournaments in Croatia and the Netherlands.
First up will be the Mladen Ramljak Memorial Tournament in Zagreb beginning on August 1st.
United also took part in the tournament last year where they reached the finals before ultimately falling to a strong Feyenoord side managed by former United star Robin van Persie.
Always a good experience to come up against teams from other countries, United have been drawn in a group with SK Rapid Wien who always boast a strong academy side in international tournaments, Slovakian side AS Trencin, and Udinese, which brings a rematch with the Italian side after a 1-1 draw in last year’s competition.
Later in the month, United also return to the Otten Innovation Cup hosted by PSV Eindhoven where they finished in 6th place last year.
A tournament used to trial innovative new ideas, this year’s competition sees them using the following rule changes:
- kick-in/dribble-in
- self-pass
- effective playing time (2×20 minutes)
- flying substitutions
- time penalty after a yellow card
The interesting rule changes require the young players to think on their feet and take advantage of in-game situations that they usually wouldn’t be able to.
An example of this occurred in last year’s competition against PSV Eindhoven when Finley McAllister was quick to restart play dribbling from a free kick before playing through Ethan Wheatley to score.
Ethan Wheatley’s first goal at the Otten Innovation Cup coming from some quick thinking by Finley McAllister to take advantage of the rule change to allow dribbling from free kicks. #MUFC #MUAcademy #OttenCup pic.twitter.com/Imrpb6j09c
— Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) August 21, 2023
The tournament has also adapted a Swiss model approach this year which sees all 10 teams in one table with each team playing three matches in the group.
United have been drawn against SL Benfica, Paris St-Germain, and hosts PSV.
The other competitors include Anderlecht, Red Bull Bragantino, Atletico Madrid, FC Utrecht, FC Copenhagen, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.
