MANCHESTER UNITED YOUTH CUP FINAL PLAYER RATINGS: Radek Vitek – 6. Czech goalkeeper compared to Oliver Kahn and Peter Schmeichel. He looked like neither as he let Forest’s equaliser role through his legs on 44. Fortunately, he was on the winning side in front of 67,492 and, mistake aside, he played well. PA
Sam Murray – 8. Left back who put a cross in to set up the opening goal. Went in strong in a 59th minute challenge for a header but escaped a yellow (no match photo available). Getty
Marc Jurado – 7. Catalan right back had a shot on target just after half time as United tried to regain their lead. Floored by a poor 54th minute tackle but kept firing up his compatriot Garnacho as well and pinging balls forward. PA
Louis Jackson – 7. Left centre-back aged just 16, he stood in for Tyler Fredricson and performed well doing a tough job against an accomplished, hard-working Forest team (no match photo available). Getty
Rhys Bennett – 8. Captain and central defender who opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a header from a free kick. A threat in the air at set-pieces. Stood tall when it mattered. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “You dream of scoring at Old Trafford, even as a defender.” Getty
Alejandro Garnacho – 9. Left winger from Madrid who has been the side’s star player. Curled a 40th minute shot wide but left his man Powell – who scored the equaliser. Fouled outside the area – and won a penalty, which he scored after 79. Got the third after 93, a sublime individual finish. Seven goals made him the top scorer in this season’s competition. Getty
Kobbie Mainoo – 8. Mancunian central midfielder who drove forward as one of the midfield two in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Tackled, dribbled, played well. Getty
Dan Gore – 7. Busy central midfielder who came alive as he urged the vast crowd to get behind the team on the way to United’s record 12th FA Youth Cup and the club’s first in 11 years. Getty
Sam Mather – 7. Right winger who was stood in the away end at Brighton at the weekend singing Manchester United songs. Five games in the competition, three goals and two assists. Getty
Isak Hansen – 7. Played as a 10. Not as busy as previous games but picked the ball up in nice spots and linked the play well. Getty
Charlie McNeil – 6. Had a shot just after half time in a spell of sustained United pressure. Worked really hard but didn’t get the breaks (no match photo available). Getty
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Rhys Bennett of Manchester United celebrates with the FA Youth Cup trophy following victory in the FA Youth Cup Final match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on May 11, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images)
Joe Hugill (McNeil 64’) – 7. “This football club is built on success and youth,” said Nick Cox, the head of the academy. “I genuinely feel the fans turned up to show those embers still burn bright. It doesn’t matter in the short term what goes off, in the long term those things don’t leave this football club.” Getty
Sonny Aljofree (Mather 86’) – N/A. Getty
MANCHESTER UNITED YOUTH CUP FINAL PLAYER RATINGS: Radek Vitek – 6. Czech goalkeeper compared to Oliver Kahn and Peter Schmeichel. He looked like neither as he let Forest’s equaliser role through his legs on 44. Fortunately, he was on the winning side in front of 67,492 and, mistake aside, he played well. PA
Sam Murray – 8. Left back who put a cross in to set up the opening goal. Went in strong in a 59th minute challenge for a header but escaped a yellow (no match photo available). Getty
Marc Jurado – 7. Catalan right back had a shot on target just after half time as United tried to regain their lead. Floored by a poor 54th minute tackle but kept firing up his compatriot Garnacho as well and pinging balls forward. PA
Louis Jackson – 7. Left centre-back aged just 16, he stood in for Tyler Fredricson and performed well doing a tough job against an accomplished, hard-working Forest team (no match photo available). Getty
Rhys Bennett – 8. Captain and central defender who opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a header from a free kick. A threat in the air at set-pieces. Stood tall when it mattered. “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “You dream of scoring at Old Trafford, even as a defender.” Getty
Alejandro Garnacho – 9. Left winger from Madrid who has been the side’s star player. Curled a 40th minute shot wide but left his man Powell – who scored the equaliser. Fouled outside the area – and won a penalty, which he scored after 79. Got the third after 93, a sublime individual finish. Seven goals made him the top scorer in this season’s competition. Getty
Kobbie Mainoo – 8. Mancunian central midfielder who drove forward as one of the midfield two in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Tackled, dribbled, played well. Getty
Dan Gore – 7. Busy central midfielder who came alive as he urged the vast crowd to get behind the team on the way to United’s record 12th FA Youth Cup and the club’s first in 11 years. Getty
Sam Mather – 7. Right winger who was stood in the away end at Brighton at the weekend singing Manchester United songs. Five games in the competition, three goals and two assists. Getty
Isak Hansen – 7. Played as a 10. Not as busy as previous games but picked the ball up in nice spots and linked the play well. Getty
Charlie McNeil – 6. Had a shot just after half time in a spell of sustained United pressure. Worked really hard but didn’t get the breaks (no match photo available). Getty
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Rhys Bennett of Manchester United celebrates with the FA Youth Cup trophy following victory in the FA Youth Cup Final match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on May 11, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images)
Joe Hugill (McNeil 64’) – 7. “This football club is built on success and youth,” said Nick Cox, the head of the academy. “I genuinely feel the fans turned up to show those embers still burn bright. It doesn’t matter in the short term what goes off, in the long term those things don’t leave this football club.” Getty
