Old Trafford played host to the FA Youth Cup on Friday night, with Manchester United ending up victors over Derby in the fourth round clash.
Chido Obi was the hero for Manchester United’s U18 side on Friday night, with his goal being the winner in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
United won the tie 2-1 in extra time, although this didn’t tell the story of how one-sided this game really was.
Obi alone could have scored four on another day, with Derby County pulling out excellent last-ditch blocks, while their goalkeeper, Cristiano Dzialuk, was absolutely top tier.
In the stands of Old Trafford watching the U18s game was the entire first team coaching staff, as well as head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, head of academy Stephen Torpey, and also club legend Wayne Rooney.
Who was your man of the match for Manchester United’s U18s in the FA Youth Cup win?
Which player stood out?
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Chido Obi steals the show for Manchester United right in front of Michael Carrick
Obi proved last season that he was far too good to be playing U18 football, but with a desire to win the FA Youth Cup, he was back with the group at Old Trafford and looked like a man against boys.
Not only was his goal really well taken and sure to have wowed Michael Carrick, but there were two other things the Dane did that will have impressed.
Chido Obi celebrates with teammates during Manchester United v Derby County
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Things weren’t going Obi’s way for much of the game, as he saw chance after chance come and go, with blocks and the goalkeeper denying him on numerous occasions.
However, he didn’t let this get him down. Obi instead just kept getting into perfect attacking positions, and this is why he got so many chances.
The 18-year-old has improved a lot in terms of his understanding of the position, learning where to be and when, which is why he will be a top striker one day.
Another thing Obi did so well was his link-up play, picking up the ball and moving it on to a teammate, which wasn’t previously in his repertoire.
Last season in the U18s, Obi just bullied opponents, using his physicality and not really a lot else, bar his impressive finishing. But Obi’s game has evolved over the course of this season.
So while he might be frustrated to be out of the first team, in the long run, it will benefit the teenager a lot, as he’s a better footballer for it. Proving he can do more than just score will do Obi favours in impressing Carrick, and this performance will have done exactly that.
Would you give Chido Obi another chance in the first-team?
He's improved a lot for Manchester United…
Chido Obi playing against Fulham U21
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick will have enjoyed Obi’s performance at Old Trafford
After Ruben Amorim called Obi out in December, for no reason at all, the Danish youth star may have wondered if he made the wrong decision joining United.
But Carrick has voiced his desire to trust the academy, and that is effectively a gauntlet to every academy player that they could be next.
Obi will be one of the top contenders to get minutes, and this complete striker’s performance will have done him wonders.
Wayne Rooney was sitting next to Carrick at the game, and the legendary United forward will surely have had good things to say about the teenager’s all-around game.
Now, he just needs to keep doing this for the U21s to prove he deserves a chance.
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