Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic believes that patience will be key for the Red Devils while handling the young defenders who are coming through the academy.

Manager Louis van Gaal has been forced to introduce a number of young players to the first team scene in the absence of injured senior players.




Players such as Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Joe Riley, Donald Love, Regan Poole, Guillermo Varela, Axel Tuanzebe and Ro-Shaun Williams, have all had a taste of the first team squad during the season, which Vidic believes is a good thing.

However, the 34-year-old is also aware of the fact that at a club like Manchester United, where the demand to win silverware is so high, things won't be that easy for the youngsters.
 


And therefore Vidic feels the need for his team to give the youngsters the right kind of games so that their growth keeps on happening while not sacrificing the club's goal of winning trophies.  

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"I think it’s more difficult for defenders, especially when you have three or four of them playing together in the same match", Vidic said in an interview with Manchester United's official website.

"For the young players who come in up front, you need that energy, imagination, happiness, you can let them play and be more free, but, in defence, I think you need someone who can lead these young boys.

"United have always brought youngsters into the team and of course they have ability, they have shown that in the games they’ve played but, when you want to win the trophies, you have to patient with them.

"You have to give them the right matches, develop them slowly so you can think about keeping them there for many years.

"It’s a longer process not just for the defenders but even for attackers.

"You have to be careful how you develop them.

"You have to accept that Manchester United always need to win trophies and when the club don’t, players have to accept some criticism and that can be hard for the younger ones to take.

"They need some experienced players to take that weight off their backs."