Joyce Proud Of United Record

Reserves coach Warren Joyce is rightly proud of Manchester United's record when it comes to producing top-class players, a fact that has been highlighted in a recent report by Swiss-based statisticians CIES.

The Football Observatory have calculated that the Reds are second only to Barcelona in terms of training youngsters between the ages of 15 and 21, who are currently performing for a club in the top five European leagues. United are ahead of third-placed Real Madrid and the final figure of 36, 12 of whom are still at Old Trafford, is 12 clear of the next-best English side in Arsenal.

"If I'm honest, I wasn't aware of the study," explained Joyce to ManUtd.com. "But, when I was down at St George's Park, FA staff there were talking about the fact.

"I don't think our club really shouts about things like this but it's hard not to be drawn into a comment on a report that has been produced independently.

"It’s all part of the standards at Manchester United about being humble and hard working. So we just get on with things, instead of shouting about what we're doing. It's more about actions rather than hollow words.

"When you're winning things, the opportunities do not come along as often so we can be proud of that statistic. If you're just a mid-table club, it would be easier to get players into the first team and I don't think it would have been a massively hard achievement to do that and maintain it with the 50-odd players I could reel off who we have sold in the past years.

"To get the achievement at a time when our first team has won the league, the Champions League and other trophies is impressive. It means it's very hard to get a young kid through when there are world-class players in nearly every position.

"I think we could form two or three teams from them and be comfortable in the Premier League and certainly at the top of the Championship if they played together."

The challenge remains to continue producing talents good enough to make their way at the top level and Joyce, who has enjoyed phenomenal success at Reserves level, is determined hard work will always reap dividends.

"We now have to make sure we continue to thrive in an ever-improving competitive environment and, certainly, a competitive financial environment with our young players. We must stick to our values and never rest on our laurels. We will strive to be the best - that has always got to be the aim for everybody here."