Manchester City confirmed yesterday that the FA Youth Cup Final will be played in their academy stadium with a tiny capacity of just 7,000. As a result, Manchester United fans have been given a pitiful allocation of just 968 tickets. When you consider 60,000 reds attended our last FA Youth Cup final in 2022 it’s a slap in the face for a club that has such a long and rich history with the competition.

With City unable to find a date where they can host the game at the Etihad, United offered Old Trafford as a venue for the final, which was turned down by the blues who had been drawn as the home team for the final. It’s not just the fans and kids who City are denying access to a live final, but their own academy players of having the first opportunity of their career to play in front of a huge crowd.

Manchester United Supporter’s Trust (MUST) released a statement urging for the location of the final to be swapped to Old Trafford.

The news that the FA Youth Cup Final, a great fixture which has heralded so many superstars of the future, is to be played in a stadium of just 6,000 people is a disgrace. Last time United were in the final we had 67,000 fans in Old Trafford so allowing this massive game to be played in front of such a paltry few fans is letting down supporters and denying these young footballers the biggest night of their careers so far. The FA needs to step in and ensure the game can be played at either the Etihad or Old Trafford. Time to put fans first for once.

United have a long-reaching history in the competition winning it more times than any other club, 11, and also being runners up on four occasions. We were the first team to win it with our legendary Busby Babes side who won it for five consecutive years. Duncan Edwards was the first player to score a hattrick in the competition. We hold the record attendance of 67,492 for our victorious final against Nottingham Forest in 2022.

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Ahead of Manchester United’s game against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, where one point would confirm our position in next season’s Champions League, Bruno Fernandes has spoken about his feelings for the club in an interview with Sky Sports.

The captain has referred to the occasions he’s had to leave but revealed the reason why he wanted to stay is because winning top honours with United would supersede anything he could with any other club.

I could have gone two years ago, or three years ago, I could’ve gone last season. I really like to be at the club and I really think that being successful at this club is something that I would never get being in any other club.

The joy and everything I will get the day I get what I want from this club, I wouldn’t get that in any other club in the world because I know how much the fans want this, I know how passionate they are, I know how much they’re waiting for that moment to come back again.

I’m in the same ship as them. I want this ship, instead of being steady, I just want it to go FORWARD and to navigate this as much as we can.

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Manchester United have announced that Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at the club which will keep him here until at least 2031.

The 21-year-old has been a revelation in the second half of the season as his regular starting place, that has been afforded to him by Michael Carrick following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, has seen United pick up more points than any other club in the league.

In Mainoo’s announcement video, he has spoken from the heart about what Manchester United means to him.

I grew up not far from here, kicking the ball about, watching Manchester United, dreaming about playing at Old Trafford, and seeing the impact our club has on our city. The Academy gave me everything, so many people helped me along the way and I’ll never forget that.

This club means everything to me and my family. The fans, the history, the standards. You feel it as soon as you have this badge on your chest. I’m proud to be from Manchester and I’m proud to represent this club.

I’ve experienced success here already and I’m hungry for more. This will always be my home. My club.

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Manchester United have confirmed this afternoon that Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at the club which will keep him at Old Trafford until at least 2031.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a regular starter since Michael Carrick took charge of the club and in that time United have picked up more points than any team in the league.

Mainoo has spoken about his pride of representing his boyhood club and his hopes for more silverware in the future.

Manchester United has always been my home; this special club means everything to my family. I have grown up seeing the impact that our club has on our city, and I relish the responsibility that comes with wearing this shirt.

From The Cliff, to Littleton Road, to Carrington and ultimately Old Trafford, the journey so far has been incredible. I have the privilege of living my dream every single day, with the same relentless desire to succeed here as when I joined my first training session at the age of six. We can all feel the momentum building inside the club. I am determined to step up and play my role in helping Manchester United to regularly fight for major trophies in the years ahead.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United Director of Football, sang the boyhood United fan’s praises.

Kobbie is one of the most naturally gifted young footballers in the world. His technical ability, dedicated professionalism and humble personality make him the perfect role model for our young players and a true credit to our outstanding Academy system.

We are delighted that Kobbie has extended his stay here and have full confidence that he will develop into one of the best players in the world, ready to play a pivotal role in a Manchester United team challenging for the biggest honours.

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Manchester United have today confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo has put pen to paper on a new contract which will see him at the club until 2031.

Mainoo, who celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this month, has been at the club since he was six-years-old, but his future at Old Trafford was in doubt under previous manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach’s system meant Mainoo had displace captain Bruno Fernandes to get a game.

With the World Cup approach and Mainoo, who had started the Euros final for England less than two years ago, had looked for a loan move in January to get some playing time. Fortunately, Amorim was sacked and Michael Carrick found a place for the young midfielder.

Since then, United have conceded considerably fewer goals per game and have picked up more points than every team in the league.

With playing time no longer an issue, Mainoo gladly committed his future to his boyhood club, with the official social media account posting a teaser about the impending news.

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Benjamin Sesko scored a vital goal for Manchester United on Monday night as we beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford. It puts Michael Carrick’s side in a great position to qualify for next season’s Champions League with four games left to go.

Casemiro stole the limelight in the game though, scoring the opener and being named Man of the Match, before being serenaded by the home crowd.

Speaking after the game, Sesko talked about how much the squad look up to the Brazilian.

He’s a working machine. He’s experienced and what he’s putting on the pitch is unbelievable. You need someone like this. Unfortunately he’s leaving, but we are pleased that we can manage him until the last minute in the game and we’re going to use him.

The way you look at him, it’s very important, you know? It would be stupid if you didn’t look at him and try to be like him when it comes to the work rate and stuff. I think everyone is pleased that he is here. Unfortunately he leaves but it’s important to keep him up like this [until the end of the season].

United’s long-term future, in terms of the direction they are choosing to go with a head coach, has yet to be resolved. Sesko insists he would like to see Carrick given the job.

He’s an amazing coach, I’ve said this many times. He’s brought different energy. Also the way we’re doing in the training, it’s unbelievable. Of course I would like to have him here.

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Bruno Fernandes was strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last season on an astronomical salary but turned the offer down to stay with Manchester United.

United had just finished 15th in the league and had lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. But Fernandes stuck with the club and has helped turn things around, with us currently sitting 3rd in the table and the captain two goals away from equalling the all-time assist record.

Speaking to Wayne Rooney on BBC Sport, Fernandes explained the decision.

I stayed because I thought I still had something that I can give back to the club. Obviously the Saudi situation, with the money… there was a lot. The good thing I have in my family is that my wife is pretty down to earth like me. We’re very aware that we don’t want to be the richest person in the world. We just want to be the ones that have achieved the dreams they had and live a good life with their kids and trying to be as successful as possible.

The words of my wife were like, ‘have you achieved your dreams? Have you achieved everything you wanted?’ And that small thing she said made me understand that she’s on the same page as me. Let’s keep trying and see where this takes me.

Fernandes is currently favourite to be named Premier League player of the season. The midfielder has spoken about what an honour it would be to be voted by his peers.

You can say as many times as you want that you want to win trophies collectively. That is true. But these individual accolades are always nice on the personal side. It is players voting for you. That has a different impact because you have been playing against them. If they recognise you as one of the best in the league, it’s a huge privilege.

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Benjamin Sesko has thrived since Bruno Fernandes has moved to a more attacking role under Michael Carrick, with four of his nine Premier League goals assisted by the captain.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Monday night’s game against Brentford, Sesko has revealed what a huge influence Fernandes is on the pitch and on the training ground, and his belief that he should be named Premier League Player of the Year.

I’m also getting a lot of instructions from Bruno. Every single training, after training, sometimes before training. Whatever he tells you, just do it, don’t think twice. And that’s what I said. I’m really grateful to have this opportunity to be around him.

He’s great. He’s my team-mate. And of course, always stand up [for my team-mates], yeah, he should win it.

United have experienced a huge turnaround this season, especially since the arrival of Michael Carrick, and Sesko has spoken about his happiness of the improvements made this season and his hopes for silverware in the future.

I think we did great. Still, some games left, but I think we’re doing great. We have a great spirit in the team. I’m learning a lot from the experience. We are here, great players, great coaching staff. I would like to really achieve some trophies here. I think there would be something that we just can’t forget it, life at all. And of course, we need to do a lot for it, but I believe we have the capacity to do that.

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Michael Carrick has made no secret of his desire to take on the Manchester United position long-term, after initially taking the job on an interim basis after Ruben Amorim was sacked.

No team has picked up more points than United in 2026 with us securing wins over Arsenal, City, Villa and Chelsea since Carrick got the job.

Speaking to the press ahead of Monday night’s game against Brentford, Carrick has revealed he’s not sure when a decision will be made on the long-term direction of the club.

I’ve said it many times, I enjoy being here, you know? I enjoy the role I’m in. We’ve had some good results and we’re in decent shape. I think there’s a lot to go, we still want to keep improving, you know, there’s layers that we want to get to, really. I’ll see, you know, I’ll see. I keep saying the same things in front of you every week, there’s only so much I can say in terms of that, but I’ve said it many times again. I enjoy being here. I love being here. It’s a real privilege to be in the position I am, but thriving with the responsibility that we’ve got.

I think it’ll become clear when it’s going to become clear, and I’m here, at the moment, to help the team and help the club get results. At the moment, we’re doing alright. We’re doing alright. We can keep pushing and getting better. So really, that’s genuinely all I’m focused on right now.

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Manchester United picked up a huge three points at Stamford Bridge yesterday, beating Chelsea away to go 10 points clear of them, to further boost our chances of playing Champions League football next season.

While Bruno Fernandes was named Man of the Match, Kobbie Mainoo put in a great performance in midfield, and after the game Michael Carrick sung his praises.

I thought that was the best Kobbie’s played, certainly since I’ve been back here. To step up and put so many phases or sides to his game tonight. I thought he looked so composed and so calm, he had a real presence about him, defended well. It’s not easy when you’ve got good players around you and it was a good battle between him and Cole Palmer. So he had to be right at it tonight but as you saw he had so much quality and composure in a tough environment really, to show us what he can do.

Mainoo had been a question mark earlier this week and the team had to make last minute chances to the defence following the suspensions of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, before the late injury to Leny Yoro which brought Ayden Heaven in to the starting XI.

Kobbie didn’t train an awful lot really. He only did a little bit on Thursday and a little bit more yesterday. It wasn’t an awful lot so credit to him for stepping into that one. Ayden, credit to him. Coming in as a young player, for one. He’s not played a lot of football recently – he played for England a couple of weeks ago, but to come into that environment that’s not something you can take for granted. Credit to him. We say the same things to young players all the time and sometimes they look at you as if to say ‘good one’ but in terms of training every day and looking after yourself and being ready, because you never know when that comes. He probably wouldn’t have thought it would come at this moment, because of how it’s gone but he prepared and he took it in his stride magnificently well.

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