TOP PLAYERS, BUT ALSO TOP BOYS



Juan Mata, who started the match against his former club Valencia, knows what it takes to make it in professional football and the intelligent 31-year-old is impressed by our youngsters’ attitudes so far.



“I'm really, really happy that they are here with us because they are fantastic players, but especially because they are great kids,” Mata said of Garner and Greenwood this week. “The way they behave, the way they speak, the way they train. They really deserve to be here.



“I think it speaks very well about the Manchester United Academy and the quality we have coming through. I wish them the best and really think they can be very important players for the club in the near future. But what I like most about them, apart from their footballing qualities, is the way they are - their personalities. They are very, very nice guys.”

In the end, Garner and Greenwood both watched from the bench as United were beaten 2-1 in the final Group H match.

Yet the experience of training with the seniors, travelling to Spain and observing the first-team environment will clearly benefit their education.