One of the most attractive aspects of Erik ten Hag's managerial record to Manchester United was the faith he has shown in youth at Ajax.
On the night United's Under-18s were bringing the Youth Cup back to Old Trafford in May, Ten Hag was celebrating his final league title in Amsterdam, but you can be sure that once the champagne had worn off he would have caught up with events at his new club.
The 52-year-old played a significant role in the development of players such as Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek, Jurrien Timber, Noussair Mazraoui and Antony, some developed at Ajax's fabled academy and others signed young and thrown in at the deep end.
READ MORE: Van de Beek has to follow Ten Hag's advice at United
As last season's Youth Cup winners proved, there is plenty of talent in the United academy, and Ten Hag has already given some players a chance, particularly in pre-season when Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal had opportunities in midfield. The decision to sell James Garner raised some eyebrows, but the midfielder was 21 and if he's not ready for Ten Hag's team now it makes sense to cash in.
The rule change in the Premier League this season to a nine-man substitutes bench and the option to use five replacements is beneficial to coaches who want to give young players a chance, but United's squad is so deep that isn't easy to do. In the first six Premier League games of the season, Alejandro Garnacho has been named amongst the replacements five times and Garner was an unused sub for the first two games, but that has been it.
But the Europa League should offer more opportunities and with 12 substitutes in that competition, there is more option to give academy players matchday experience, something Ten Hag took advantage of. As well as including Garnacho again, he also named Tyler Fredricson, Iqbal and Charlie McNeil on the bench against Real Sociedad and two of his changes hinted at his willingness to trust in youth.
When he took off both of his wingers with 19 minutes to go and United a goal down, the Dutchman was happy to throw Garnacho on for his first competitive action since a very brief outing at the end of the opening day defeat to Brighton. The 18-year-old looked lively on the left wing and will hope there are more chances to come in this competition.
McNeil was also trusted with the chance to help find a way back into the game. The 19-year-old was making his debut after a prolific youth career and came on for the final seven minutes against the La Liga side, an experience he won't forget.
The depth of United's squad might mean youngsters - bar, perhaps, Garnacho - still find Premier League experience hard to come by, but the Europa League should be more welcoming, despite an opening day defeat.
United should still cruise through a group also containing Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia, with the teams from Moldova and Cyprus making up the next four games, and there should be a handful of academy graduates on the bench for all of those fixtures. If Ten Hag's team find themselves in control of those games then the youngsters can get a chance in easier circumstances.
It was a dispiriting start to United's European campaign, but it did at least show that Ten Hag's faith in youth is transferrable from Amsterdam to Manchester.
READ NEXT:
