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Ed Woodward’s right-hand man has praised under-pressure Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal for his investment in youth at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman has handed first-team debuts to eight academy players this season, including 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford, who has scored five goals in eight games since breaking into the team.

There is continued speculation Van Gaal could leave this summer after a disappointing campaign that has seen United exit the Champions League at the group stages and struggle to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

But Richard Arnold, United’s group managing director, has hailed the 64-year-old for his endorsement of the club’s academy.

Van Gaal’s record of youth development is in stark contrast to that of Jose Mourinho, one of the names mentions as a possible replacement for the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

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Arnold told CNBC: “I’m really excited about the young players.

“I think the thing that’s come through this year is you seen the success of our academy system and the way it has worked and you see the young players coming through.

“There’s a whole army of people in tears, seeing a player score the first time and that’s an important part of what are and we’re all set for the future.”

The 1-0 win over Manchester City has left United a point off the Champions League places with eight games to go.

Arnold, who work’s closely with executive vice-chairman Woodward, insists the board are still confident Van Gaal can deliver Champions League football for next season.

But while he revealed his delight at watching United win at the Etihad Stadium last week – a result that reignited the race for fourth place - he admitted the Europa League exit to Liverpool had been ‘heart-wrenching’.

He added: “We’re committed to making sure we’re playing the highest levels. No one likes losing, it’s not something that the club sets out to do.

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“I think that is something we have seen in the last two or two and a bit years, it has been tougher than some of the preceding years but what we have seen is an amazing group of fans.

“We are 140 years old and we had amazing times in my 10 years at the club. I have been to three Champions League finals. We won a lot of Premier League titles.

“We have had amazing days and we have not so amazing days. Sunday was amazing, the Thursday before was pretty heart-wrenching and one of the things that is fantastic about both the sport and then our fans is uncertainty is what makes it fantastic.”