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Class of '22 - How Manchester United's proud academy restored a smile

Class of '22 - How Manchester United's proud academy restored a smile

Manchester United’s teenagers restored a bit of hope at the end of a tough season.

The young reds sealed a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest in the final of the FA Youth Cup.

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This has been the Red Devils’ worst season of the Premier League era.

Abject performances and a run that has ruled out Champions League football for next season have led to criticism and scrutiny.

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Academy boss Nick Cox believes the FA Youth Cup triumph at a rocking Old Trafford shows the “embers still burn bright” for a club built on youth and success.

A record-breaking 67,492 fans packed into Old Trafford to cheer on the youth side.

Argentinian starlet Alejandro Garnacho’s brace sealed the 3-1 win, with the club celebrating winning the competition for a record 11th time.

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"This football club is built on success and youth," United’s head of academy Cox said.

"I feel like the fans turned up to show that those embers still burn bright.

"It doesn’t matter, you know, in the short term what goes off.

"In the long term, those things don’t leave this football club.

"I think the fans turned up and reminded us that this place is built on success and it’s built on youth.

"They were proud and we’re really proud. It was incredible. I’ve never witnessed anything like it and I don’t think we ever will do again."

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