Friday, 22nd August, 2014
Young Manchester United defender Michael Keane is upbeat about manager Louis van Gaal’s penchant for giving youth a chance at the club.
Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard made their Premier League debuts in Manchester United’s 2-1 loss to Swansea City on the opening day of the Premier League season at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old defender is enjoying the fact that Van Gaal is not afraid to give young players a chance in big games and feels that it provides confidence to the youngsters at the club.
"Yeah, I don't think the manager has any problems throwing young players into big games", Keane told the club’s official site.
"He showed that on tour and in the first Premier League game. It is good to be around and you know that if he needs a player to call up then he is not frightened to put a young player [in] and that is good.”
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He also added that under the Dutchman, youngsters need to be on their toes as the step up from reserve team football to first team action is not always easy.
However, Keane said that the former Ajax manager has created an environment of confidence at the club where the youngsters know that they will get their shot at first team football if they continue to perform.
"When you see people like Tyler and Jesse making their debuts at the weekend, it just goes to show that things can happen so quickly.
“One minute you are playing in the reserves and the next minute you are making your Premier League debut, so you have to be ready for it whenever it comes and make sure you take your chance.”
Keane has made three first team appearances for the Red Devils and he will hope to see more action this season at Old Trafford in Van Gaal’s new 3-4-1-2 system.
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