United were FA Youth Cup finalists in May, but
succeeding at teenage level is different to making it big with some
of the world's finest internationals.
It has made the challenge for the next generation of Ronaldo and
Rooney wannabes - and United's Academy director Brian McClair -
even tougher.
"Young players and parents should always have dreams," said
McClair. "Parents dreaming of their boy playing for Manchester
United and the lad having the same dream is a lovely thing. I don't
think that has changed and will ever change.
"No matter what happens down the line, we always say at the outset
to parents that if their boy comes into our academy system at eight
years old they will be better players by the time they reach 16 and
are considering becoming professionals than if they had gone to any
other club.
"You see the recent cases of Kieran Richardson and David Jones,
who'll be in the Premiership this season with Sunderland and Derby
County, and I think we can say the product we are producing is good
enough to play in the Premier League."
Seven of last year's Premiership-winning squad were brought
throught the youth system, but McClair added: "It is more difficult
now, for instance, than when the Class of 92 came on to the senior
scene. It is a different world now.
"There was less financial muscle to purchase players then, maybe a
smaller transfer market to choose from. It is a worldwide search
these days.
"I am not saying the Giggs, Beckhams, Nevilles, Scholes and Butts
wouldn't have made it because they were great talents but it is
harder now.
"But that is all part of the challenge. Our view is that we want to
have as many players as we can develop and getting into the first
team squad and establishing themselves.
"We are trying to produce a superior product than at some clubs but
that is the challenge.
"It is down to us to produce the players and we are happy with what
we have got in the system.
"Not everyone will make it but we want the lads who've been with us
to go on and have good careers either at United or elsewhere. That
is what we are about."
United's global search to provide the first team with the very best
means the Reds have imported a German, a Dane and a Portuguese into
the youth system and two Brazilians are on their way.
This in turn has also made it harder for Mancunians to get on to
the ladder.
"The Busby Babes didn't all come from Manchester," McClair pointed
out. "In those days to make United into the best, the club looked
for the best in Britain. Now you have to look for the best in the
world.
"But we always have had and will continue to have local talent as
well. The importance of that won't change. You have to be brave
sometimes and the manager here at United has been brave in the past
and will continue to be brave in terms of promoting youth
players."