Nicky Butt on Manchester United’s academy decline: “other clubs upped their game” | OneFootball

Nicky Butt, former Manchester United midfielder and academy coach, has been forthright about the state of the club’s youth development, describing a period in which the Red Devils fell behind their rivals. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the launch of his new podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Football, Butt reflected on the years he spent within United’s academy, from 2012 to 2021, and the frustrations he witnessed firsthand.

“The worst thing you can do is bury your head in the sand,” Butt said, referencing the meteoric rise of Manchester City as a destination for young talent. “Kids saw other clubs coming to them with better facilities. It was a massive pull for them. All over the country, academies upped their game. At Manchester United, we got a bit lacklustre, thinking we were the biggest and the best.”

Butt’s concerns extended beyond facilities. He lamented the growing disconnect between the academy and the senior squad, contrasting it with his own experience as a player. “When I was coming into the first team, I knew Brian Robson, Mark Hughes, Peter Schmeichel, Brian McClair… I was having dinner with them every day. It was one big family. Now, young players are moving further away from the first team. I could not imagine playing in front of 75,000 people and not even knowing who these people are.”

Butt remains optimistic about United’s future

Despite his nostalgia, Butt was pragmatic about United’s proud tradition of fielding an academy graduate in every squad for 88 years. “Unless you are bringing players in who are going to play for the club for years, it’s pointless. If it’s just to keep the tradition going, it can be false. A bit of a sham,” he said. “You have to be brave enough to go against tradition. It will happen one day.” Looking forward, Butt remains cautiously optimistic. While he tempers expectations for new recruits such as Benjamin Sesko, he is encouraged by the club’s investment in infrastructure. “The fundamentals of any club have to be solid,” he said. “How long until the title returns? That is the big question. My heart says one thing. My head says something else.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle