Learn more
Manchester United coach McShane: ‘We want to put on a show to end brilliant Hong Kong trip’
- United youngsters aiming for two wins from two against HK opponents on Saturday
- Coach McShane emphasises holistic value of visit and spells out young-player plans
Manchester United academy coach Paul McShane has vowed the club’s young players will look to “put on a show” when they face a Hong Kong Youth Select Team at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday.
The English club’s Under-16 side overcame unfamiliar sweltering conditions and a combative Hong Kong U18 team to win their opening match 3-0 at the same venue on Wednesday.
McShane, who graduated from the Old Trafford academy for a career with clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Hull City, saluted the old heads on young shoulders of the United players enjoying an Asian adventure.
The visit, arranged in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, features a host of off-field cultural activities, and United’s players have also trained with their matchday opponents.
“The whole trip is different from anything our players have experienced,” McShane told the Post.
“Preparation was unlike anything they’re used to – they had jet lag to contend with and the off-pitch activities.
“But we don’t want them becoming complacent after winning the first game. There are more cultural events between the matches, which is brilliant.
United youngsters hoping to make names for themselves give fans taste of future
“But they need to come again. They need to get in character when it comes to the game. They are here to put on a show. It is entertainment. And the best way to perform is through applying attitude, mentality and effort. They have the skills, but they have to do the basics first, then they can go and express themselves.”
McShane related his admiration for the United youngsters’ ability to manage the stifling temperatures in midweek, recalling his own experience of “nearly falling over” and struggling for breath during pre-season running in Thailand.
The maturity shown in handling an alien on-pitch environment, McShane said, had been replicated in the way United’s youngsters were conducting themselves during their downtime.
“Our first objective is to create good people,” McShane said.
“Not all of them will reach the first team, unfortunately. But we want to make sure they become better humans. The message to them is to stay humble and leave this club in a better place than when they came.
“They will be on more of these trips and spending a lot of time in hotels if they play at the top level. They need to know how to behave and they have been fantastic.
“They have mixed with both the local people and the players they have trained with, they have been very respectful and have to continue that.”
McShane was a member of United’s 2003 FA Youth Cup winning team, but left for West Brom three years later without making a senior appearance for the 20-times English champions.
The former centre-back nevertheless played more than 400 professional club matches, including 98 in the Premier League, reached the 2014 FA Cup final with Hull City and was capped 33 times by Republic of Ireland.
“We want Manchester United-grown players throughout the leagues in England and abroad,” McShane said.
“It is difficult to have a career in football, you encounter many challenges and we tell them it is the survival of the fittest, mentally.
“Physically, you need to be really fit. You are playing at the elite level. But if you are fit mentally, and can take the hits and keep going, that is what defines you.
“The opening match was a great test, the players needed to dig deep and unite and have a clean sheet mentality.
“There were a few nerves but they are a good thing, the important element is how you manage them and the players did that very well. They had never played in front of that many people. A lot of the crowd were United fans and they are quite fanatical here. They create an atmosphere, so it was a brilliant experience.”
Manchester United academy coach Paul McShane has vowed the club’s young players will look to “put on a show” when they face a Hong Kong Youth Select Team at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday.
The English club’s Under-16 side overcame unfamiliar sweltering conditions and a combative Hong Kong U18 team to win their opening match 3-0 at the same venue on Wednesday.
McShane, who graduated from the Old Trafford academy for a career with clubs including West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Hull City, saluted the old heads on young shoulders of the United players enjoying an Asian adventure.
The visit, arranged in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, features a host of off-field cultural activities, and United’s players have also trained with their matchday opponents.
“The whole trip is different from anything our players have experienced,” McShane told the Post.
“Preparation was unlike anything they’re used to – they had jet lag to contend with and the off-pitch activities.
“But we don’t want them becoming complacent after winning the first game. There are more cultural events between the matches, which is brilliant.
“But they need to come again. They need to get in character when it comes to the game. They are here to put on a show. It is entertainment. And the best way to perform is through applying attitude, mentality and effort. They have the skills, but they have to do the basics first, then they can go and express themselves.”
McShane related his admiration for the United youngsters’ ability to manage the stifling temperatures in midweek, recalling his own experience of “nearly falling over” and struggling for breath during pre-season running in Thailand.
The maturity shown in handling an alien on-pitch environment, McShane said, had been replicated in the way United’s youngsters were conducting themselves during their downtime.
“Our first objective is to create good people,” McShane said.
“Not all of them will reach the first team, unfortunately. But we want to make sure they become better humans. The message to them is to stay humble and leave this club in a better place than when they came.
“They will be on more of these trips and spending a lot of time in hotels if they play at the top level. They need to know how to behave and they have been fantastic.
“They have mixed with both the local people and the players they have trained with, they have been very respectful and have to continue that.”
McShane was a member of United’s 2003 FA Youth Cup winning team, but left for West Brom three years later without making a senior appearance for the 20-times English champions.
The former centre-back nevertheless played more than 400 professional club matches, including 98 in the Premier League, reached the 2014 FA Cup final with Hull City and was capped 33 times by Republic of Ireland.
“We want Manchester United-grown players throughout the leagues in England and abroad,” McShane said.
“It is difficult to have a career in football, you encounter many challenges and we tell them it is the survival of the fittest, mentally.
“Physically, you need to be really fit. You are playing at the elite level. But if you are fit mentally, and can take the hits and keep going, that is what defines you.
“The opening match was a great test, the players needed to dig deep and unite and have a clean sheet mentality.
“There were a few nerves but they are a good thing, the important element is how you manage them and the players did that very well. They had never played in front of that many people. A lot of the crowd were United fans and they are quite fanatical here. They create an atmosphere, so it was a brilliant experience.”