Man Utd will not compete in the EFL Trophy next season as they change their focus within the academy.
Chido Obi
Chido Obi in action against Lincoln City in last season's EFL Trophy
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Manchester United have pulled out of the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup for this season as they look to offer more first-team training opportunities and focus on individual development for their best young players.
With United returning to the UEFA Youth League (for Under-19s) after securing a return to the Champions League, it was felt that the games programme for their Professional Development Phase (PDP) group was becoming too bloated.
United could have entered Premier League 2, the UEFA Youth League, the Premier League International Cup, EFL Trophy and National League Cup this season, as well as the U-18 Premier League and the FA Youth Cup.
But academy chiefs felt it risked losing the balance between games and development time and, as a result, have decided to pull out of the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup, the latter of which they entered for the first time last season and involved fixtures against National League first-team squads.
The EFL Trophy has been seen as a good developmental competition for young players, offering them matches against first-team squads in the Football League. United's youngsters beat Notts County last season but suffered defeats to Barnsley and Lincoln City in the group phase.
United have entered the competition every season since 2019/20, emerging from the group on three occasions and making the last-16 in 2022/23, which remains their best result.
The decision to withdraw from the EFL Trophy but remain in the Premier League International Cup was based on the variety of games the latter competition can offer, with fixtures against academy sides from different countries and styles of play. Academy bosses felt the fixture against Real Madrid at Old Trafford last year was a good test for the club's young players.
The decision to cut down on the games programme this season comes as United expect to carry a smaller group in their Under-21s this season. While they will continue to recruit the best young players, sources say they will be selective about who is brought into the club.
The focus will also turn to individual development, allowing for more time on the training ground and more opportunities for the best youngsters to step up to first-team training, rather than remaining with the Under-21s during a demanding games programme.
Old Trafford sources said United remain supportive of both competitions they have pulled out of and that their young players benefited from both. They will review the games programme ahead of the 2027/28 season and could decide to re-enter both.