Manchester United is in need of a rejuvenation of their youth team, and Sir Dave Brailsford has the potential to bring about this change.

Sitting in the directors’ box at Luton Town on Sunday, a few rows below Harry Styles to whom the Sky Sports cameras kept returning to find, Sir Dave Brailsford cut a low profile as he looked on studiously through a pair of thick-rimmed glasses.

Out of the new three-person power committee assembled to revamp and rejuvenate Manchester United, Brailsford was the sole member present. The other two individuals, Joel Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are both extremely wealthy businessmen. However, considering Brailsford’s extensive history of athletic triumphs, it is safe to assume that he will hold the most sway in shaping United’s future in the upcoming months and years.

Brailsford remained calm and unresponsive to the unpredictable events taking place before him. He showed no emotion as Rasmus Hojlund scored, securing the lead for United. He remained still as Carlton Morris of Luton equalized, causing an uproar in the stadium. Brailsford did not flinch as United barely managed to hold on to their victory, accumulating unnecessary yellow cards and missing several opportunities to seal the match. Despite these mistakes, they somehow emerged with a 2-1 win.

During the entire event, Brailsford remained calm, occasionally fidgeting with his hands or playing with the ring on his finger. Although he may not be well-versed in football, he could easily make some observations about United’s lackluster victory.

The main difference that stood out was the contrast in performance between United’s veteran players and their promising young players. Hojlund has been playing exceptionally well, scoring in his last six games. This game was another example of his ability to lead his team to victory. His first goal, scored just 36 seconds into the game, showed the composure of a skilled goal scorer. His second goal, a clever chested finish, was also expertly executed.

Afterwards, manager Erik ten Hag expressed his satisfaction with the recruitment process, stating that they were able to find the right person for the team who can handle high-pressure situations. Despite facing challenges in the first half of the season, the individual’s strong character, resilience, determination, and ability to score goals were evident and confirmed during the scouting process.

In the vicinity of Hojlund, the most promising players for United were all youthful. In a match lacking order, 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo showed moments of control with another impressive performance that hints at him being the driving force for United in the years ahead. His skill in receiving the ball in confined areas and retaining possession was exceptional. Additionally, Alejandro Garnacho was not efficient in scoring but remained a persistent danger, while Diogo Dalot brought energy to the right side.

While playing at Kenilworth Road, the experienced players, namely Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Casemiro, all received bookings for reckless tackles in the first half. The legitimacy of Casemiro’s booking was questionable, but he was lucky to avoid a second booking for his challenge on Ross Barkley. To prevent further consequences, Ten Hag wisely swapped them out and protected them from receiving red cards.

Bruno Fernandes had difficulty making a significant contribution to the game, and when Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans entered the match, they both committed careless fouls. Surprisingly, Christian Eriksen was not even substituted in.

Based on this information, it seems that the success of this team in the future will heavily rely on the growth of young players. Brailsford, who has experience in the cycling world with Team Sky (now Ineos), understands this concept well. After the initial achievements of Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, he reconstructed the team by focusing on young, promising riders. One notable example is Egan Bernal, who became the youngest winner of the Tour de France in over a hundred years. Brailsford recognized the importance of developing a team filled with talented individuals and actively sought out potential prospects from Britain, mainland Europe, and South America.

During his involvement with OGC Nice, another Ineos venture, Brailsford played a key role in the recruitment of Francesco Farioli as the club’s head coach at just 34 years old, making him one of the youngest managers in European football’s top tier. Brailsford is now reportedly close to bringing on Dan Ashworth, Newcastle’s technical director who is renowned for revamping England’s footballing philosophy from the youth level and up. This has been attributed to the success of developing a talented pool of English players, a stark contrast from a decade ago.

Encouraging young individuals to thrive is not the only aspect to consider. Certain tough choices will have to be made regarding the fate of United’s costly senior members who are not performing consistently. Brailsford is well-versed in being merciless with his seasoned veterans. Even Froome, his top contender, was abruptly removed from the Tour de France team. Brailsford is not one for sentimentalism, and as he sat stoically, his gaze fixed, it appears he does not show much emotion either.

This victory highlights the fact that United cannot succeed without young players. It seems clear that they need to rebuild their team around these young players and remove some of their more experienced players. While Brailsford may not have a deep understanding of football, he is the perfect person for this rebuilding job.

Source: independent.co.uk