Man Utd Academy Chief Butt: Chong Promotion Can Spur Young Teammates

Manchester United academy chief Nicky Butt was pleased to see Tahith Chong on the bench for the Champions League defeat to Juventus.

Butt says the Dutch youngster’s promotion is a clear message to his academy teammates.

He told manutd.com: “Chongy has done really well and been one of the stand-out players when he’s played at this level.

“He’s gone up with the first team today [Tuesday] and I said to the lads at half-time there is no better time to go and be a footballer at Manchester United.

“There is room for them to go and play there as it’s a club that really insists on youngsters going up through the Academy and playing in the first team. The club demands it, the fans certainly demand it and the board demand it. I said that at half-time, there is no reason why three or four of them couldn’t be up in the next squad.

“It’s why they need to do well here and not take their foot off the pedal but keep driving and driving. It’s easy for me to say it as an older man who is now retired as, when I was young, I probably did the same thing. But it’s really important to keep giving them the message that, when it gets easy, it’s not the time to take your foot off the pedal.”