Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, expressed optimism for the club’s future following the impressive performance of 19-year-old centre-back Willy Kambwala in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
In only his second start for the team, the 19-year-old showcased resilience against Liverpool’s attacking prowess, particularly impressing in his duels with Darwin Nunez. Notably, Kambwala even acknowledged the fans at the Stretford End after a stellar recovery tackle on the Uruguayan.
With injuries sidelining Jonny Evans along with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Victor Lindelof, Kambwala was thrust into action. Ten Hag indicated that the availability of his central defenders is unlikely to change this week, revealing that he had contemplated shifting Casemiro to central defense but ultimately placed his trust in the young talent.
The Dutch manager was pleased with Kambwala’s impact, highlighting the Frenchman’s performance as one of the positives from the game. Notably, Manchester United fielded three teenagers in the starting lineup against Liverpool, with an additional three on the bench, a testament to the club’s promising future.
“When old soldiers die, new ones have to come in,” ten Hag remarked. “Willy has been training with us for a while now. He started against West Ham and performed admirably. His progress has been remarkable, and we had full confidence in him.”
He continued, “We could have opted to move Casemiro back and introduce another midfielder, but we were convinced that Willy could handle the job. This is a positive sign and a message for the future of Manchester United. The team and squad possess great potential.”
Looking ahead, ten Hag emphasized the need for improvement in preserving leads, citing recent instances where Manchester United conceded late goals against Brentford, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
“It’s incredibly disappointing when you find yourselves in winning positions three times within a week only to drop points,” he remarked. “We’ve all witnessed some questionable decisions. These past three games have seen poor decisions, and it’s not always the same players. The frequent changes in our backline, with 27 different setups this season, have disrupted our routines. However, we must continue to strive for improvement, sooner rather than later.”