Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney has praised the mindset that has been ingrained in young players at Manchester United ever since the days of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Two United youngsters made their way to St. Andrews over the summer, Hannibal Mejbri joining for a second season-long loan while Tahith Chong signed a four-year permanent deal for around £1.5million, following his initial loan during the 2021/2022 campaign.
The pair have become part of a project in the Midlands that is championing youth, and play alongside the Jobe Bellingham, the brother of England international Jude. Deeney, now 34 years old, is one of the more experienced heads in the squad and is valued by the younger players, and the former Watford frontman has praised the mindset of United's loanees.
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"I always find the ones from United have the right attitude," Deeney told the Times. "I don’t know whether it’s about what Fergie [Sir Alex Ferguson] put in there from decades ago but the ones that come from Man United are always respectful, there’s a desire to be better.
"It’s never about money with them. I’ve had people from Chelsea and other clubs and it’s money-motivated first whereas at Man United it’s, ‘I want to be the best of the best’. Even if they don’t go on to do that, there’s always that drive.
"The earliest one I had was when Danny Drinkwater came to Watford from Man United, he wasn’t playing but was driving himself daily to be better and then goes on to have the career he’s had. Man United have always got good kids. My job now is to shape them and help guide them, on and off the pitch.
"I wouldn’t want to be 22, 23 now with the level of money that these kids are getting with the amount of distractions, social media, the way that females are, the way that clubs are, the way the media is towards them."
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