Manchester United goalkeeper Lee Grant believes the club’s youngsters will bounce back strongly from Thursday’s shock Europa League loss in Kazakhstan.
Even with the 36-year-old making his first start between the sticks, the line-up against Astana was the youngest the club have ever put out for a European match.
An own goal Di’Shon Bernard, one of six debutants in Nur-Sultan, proved United’s undoing in a shock 2-1 loss to the perennial Kazakh champions – a match that provided important lessons for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s youngsters.
“They will take a lot out of it,” goalkeeper Grant said after becoming United’s oldest European debutant.
“Just being out there in a Man United shirt, it’s a really fantastic experience. It’s not one that comes that often.
“Hopefully it gives those boys something really to aim for as well as the rest of the academy and the young boys in the set-up because it’s important for them to see the pathway at the football club.
“Technically they’re all capable and they showed that throughout the 90 minutes.
Tonight, a boyhood dream came true for me. To captain Manchester United has been a lifelong ambition ever since I joined the club at 9 years old. Manchester is my city, Manchester United is my club. I am truly honoured to captain the club tonight and lead this young team#Honoured pic.twitter.com/tTYmSxK6Ja— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) November 28, 2019
“There’s absolutely no doubt that they’ve got talent as individuals, it’s just about learning those finer details that will help us to win games, especially what can be at times difficult circumstances away from home. You’ve got to contend with the pitch or all of the rest of it.
“But for the most part, I was really pleased with how they handled it and they will take lots and lots away from this.”
Things would have been different in freezing Nur-Sultan had Tahith Chong not wasted a glorious chance to add to Jesse Lingard’s opener moments before Dmitri Shomko levelled.
Ultimately an own goal from teenage debutant Bernard was the difference, but Grant does not believe that should detract from a fine first appearance by the defender.
“There’s absolutely no need to rally around him because he’s smart enough to know that he’s actually played really well tonight,” the goalkeeper told the PA news agency.
“I’ve just watched both goals back and his positioning is excellent and the second one is unbelievable.
“He’s got himself back into a fantastic area and he’s even done the right thing in standing up, keeping his body square and it comes off a chest and a shoulder and hits the post and it’s gone in.
“It’s one of those things. It’s really difficult for him to predict that outcome.
“But he’s smart enough to know he’s played well and has got a bright future ahead of him.”
6️⃣ #MUAcademy lads made their #MUFC bows today 👏 pic.twitter.com/V5n3H619Sy— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 28, 2019
As for Grant, disappointment at the result and lack of clean sheet could not disguise a proud moment as the third-choice goalkeeper started his first competitive match for United.
“It felt normal,” he said when asked about stepping out for the club. “But I think obviously I’ve been around the football club a while now.
“That’s not to say it wasn’t exciting and obviously of course a little bit of nerves, but I felt ready to be out there and be a part of it.
“But as I say, now the game is out of the way and done with, of course really, really proud and looking forward to the next one.”
