Butt: This Is How We Develop Winners

Today marks 80 years of Manchester United including a homegrown player in every first-team squad, highlighting the club's incredible track record for honing young talent.

With Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Scott McTominay, Axel Tuanzebe and Joel Pereira all in Jose Mourinho's plans, this proud record is set to continue.

So how are our young players prepared for life in the seniors? Last summer, our Head of Academy Nicky Butt provided a passionate and detailed insight into life at the Aon Training Complex...

“Even though a few inevitably slip through the net as in any other walk of life, we produce good people here. Hopefully they work in football but, if not, they go on to do other things successfully.

“It’s drilled into you from an early age. It’s all well and good being a Manchester United player, but you need to be a winner. Ultimately, if you’re not winning things here, you won’t last long, and that’s a fact. The manager will look to someone else who can win.

"This club has built its foundations on winning, we’ve always won things and been successful. We’ve had dry spells, like any club, but we always get back to winning. If you’re not a winner, if you’re not brought up with that winning mentality, you’re going to struggle in the first team.

“People like Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba, people who know the system, they have to carry the club now. As well as Michael Carrick, who knows the place inside out. These young players who come in for a lot of money might not know the club or the environment or the area, so it’s up to those guys to incorporate them into United and instil those beliefs.

“They need to be introducing them to Kath on reception at the training ground, letting them know how long she’s been here because it is over 50 years. They have to know about how many players she’s seen come through those doors down the years and decades.

"They need to recognise the laundry people, the canteen ladies, the chefs, the ground staff and security lads – they’re part of our family and you need to say 'good morning' to them every single day.

“When you come to United, the players are the superstars and the ones everyone wants an autograph from but, when you come into this building, we’re all equal.

“We all have a role and, without one, we don’t have a team. Without the kit guys or the bus drivers, the security guards and canteen staff, there wouldn’t be a club. It’s important for the players to let the new lads know what Manchester United is all about.”

*This interview was first published on 22 July 2017