Chido Obi took a step towards the Manchester United first team with a very notable under-21 performance.
An unfortunate date clash meant that Chido Obi was unable to travel with Manchester United’s first team for the training camp in Ireland.
This was because the under-21s faced Real Madrid Castilla in the Premier League Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.
It was a great opportunity for the under-21s to get big match experience in a knockout game, [and they rose to the occasion].
United lost the game 4-2 after extra-time, and while Chido Obi did not score, he had a big part to play across the 120 minutes.
Chido Obi running
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Jack Moorhouse celebrates scoring for Manchester United U21 v Real Madrid U21
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Chido Obi’s contribution vs Real Madrid Castilla
Chido Obi played an important part in Manchester United taking an early 2-0 advantage.
Jack Moorhouse scored the first goal with a terrific piece of individual play where he knocked the ball past an opponent into space, before rifling it high into the net.
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Part of the reason there was so much space was Chido Obi’s run to the opposite side of the penalty box, making Moorhouse’s task easier.
Obi had an even more proactive role in United’s second goal. His pressing inside the penalty box drew the Real goalkeeper into a mistake, and he brought him down inside the area.
Shea Lacey scored the penalty to give United a 2-0 lead. Real were able to fight back and draw level and force extra-time.
Obi linked up well with his teammates in the first half, but he was less efficient after the break.
One excellent counter attacking opportunity went to waste because Obi chose the wrong player to pass to.
That was with the score at 2-1 to United, and the blown opportunity could have tipped the momentum back in the team’s favour and restored a two-goal lead.
Obi forced another mistake from the goalkeeper in extra-time that almost resulted in a goal. His effort levels so late in the game were positive to see.
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
What next for Obi
Manchester United will be pleased with Chido Obi to an extent, but will still want to see more from him in terms of his own goal threat.
United made a conscious decision to keep Chido Obi playing academy football this season, rather than involve him in the first team.
Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence spoke last week to praise the way Obi is ‘playing with a smile on his face’ and is embracing his situation.
Obi is not the finished product, as this game showed, but he is learning to add more to his game than goals.
One of the areas United identified that Obi had room for growth was his off-ball movement, especially out of possession.
So it will have been particularly pleasing to see the young striker earn his team a penalty with his pressing, forcing a mistake from the goalkeeper.
There is more football to come for Chido Obi. Manchester United have under-21 and under-18s league games, before next week’s FA Youth Cup semi-final, and the Premier League Cup Final at the end of the month.
Obi will have a big role to play in both, his final season at under-18s level.
The step up to under-21s is more testing, as shown by a leaner flow of goals for Obi at this level – and the first team will be even tougher. And that’s why United are right to be patient.
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