Manchester United youngster Chido Obi dropped down from the first team to the under-18s for a crunch semi-final.
Earlier this season Chido Obi became the 252nd Manchester United academy graduate to make the first team, and the first under Ruben Amorim.
But he will not be featuring against Nottingham Forest for the first team, with United making the decision to allow Obi to play with the under-18s in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.
Chido had scored seven goals in the competition to get United to the last four, and he had the opportunity to carry on what he started.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Chido Obi and Manchester United lose on penalties
In the end it was a disappointing result for Manchester United’s youngsters as they tried to emulate the success of the Alejandro Garnacho led 2022 FA Youth Cup winners.
United’s youngsters conceded early, before James Scanlon equalised in the first half, after good work from Tyler Fletcher.
After that it did not really work out for United, with Villa holding on for a 1-1 draw through extra-time, and then winning the penalty shootout.
Villa won 3-1 on penalties, with Chido Obi not among the takers with three United players missing.
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This appeared to be an error. It has happened in senior football when the top striker wants to take their penalties fifth, and don’t get the chance. Now quite frequently the top penalty-taker will go first.
What Manchester United can take from Chido Obi blank
Chido Obi has an outstanding goal record with 15 strikes for Manchester United’s academy teams since he joined.
He was unfortunate not to score against Villa, hitting the outside of the post in the second half from a corner.
He also had another effort from inside the box that he landed straight at the goalkeeper. Either side would have probably resulted in a goal.
There were drawbacks to his display. At times his passing was off and he struggled to combine with his teammates, something you might expect considering he has been training with the first team, and has recently been away with the under-21 side.
This was also a test of Obi’s temperament. Similar to his FA Cup debut against Fulham, where he looked a little nervous, he did not quite grasp the big occasion.
And what this might do is just calm United’s own expectation towards the young Danish striker, who has not been registered in the Europa League squad.
With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee showing brief, positive signs of life before the international break, Chido Obi can be used as a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ in the Premier League this season.
United’s best path forward with him might temporarily be for him to play a few more academy games, score a few goals, and get his confidence back up again before catapulting him back up to the first team.