---
title: "Tuanzebe outlines first-team ambitions"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/11/01/tuanzebe-outlines-first-team-ambitions/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2015-11-01T06:30:43Z"
modified: "2015-11-01T06:30:43Z"
---

# Tuanzebe outlines first-team ambitions

Manchester United youngster Axel Tuanzebe has outlined his ambitions to be a first-team regular at Old Trafford in the near future.

The 18-year old centre-back was on the substitute’s bench for the first time yesterday, replacing the unfit Phil Jones as United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Although last season’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year did not make the pitch, he has told the [official Manchester United website](https://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2015/Oct/axel-tuanzebe-aiming-to-become-manchester-united-leader.aspx) that he hopes to be playing in the first-team in the near future.

![Matthew Peters/Getty Images](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/10/Tuanzebe-904x865.jpeg)Tuanzebe has been working with Warren Joyce’s Under-21 squad after an impressive season at Under-18 level, and the Congolese-born youngster is enjoying the experience so far:

> *It’s been good. I’ve come back from injury and got back into my game. I’m really enjoying it.*
>
> *The Under-21s is a better level with better players and it’s really like men’s football and is another stepping stone to the first team. Obviously, I won Player of the Year last season but finished off with an injury so I’m just trying to get my way back into the team and impress the manager really.*

The youngster also says that winning the Player of the Year award is now in the past, and is looking towards the future and improving himself as a player:

> *My family were so proud of me, as were my friends and family and I was getting messages from all over the world saying ‘well done’. I was happy to win the award, but it’s all about getting back into it and forgetting it, driving forward and being a regular player now.*
>
> *Once something happens, it’s finished and onto the next one. You take it in your stride. Criticism is as good as praise really as it allows you to work on something you’re not as good at. There’s nothing wrong with criticism, you just take everything in your stride.*

![Matthew Peters/Getty Images](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/10/Tuanzebe-2-904x509.jpeg)Tuanzebe was also given the captaincy of the Under-18 squad despite being a first-year scholar last season and impressed onlookers with his leadership on the pitch. He expressed his hope at possibly leading the Reds onto the pitch as captain someday:

> *At first, I was a bit nervous being captain of older players but, as we got into the season, we all grew in respect and we have a good bond with each other.*
>
> *We’ve played together since we were young so I knew everyone I was with and it wasn’t really a major problem. As the season continued, we just grew together as a team. I respected them and they respected me. It developed me as a person and now I feel more of a leader. I believe, one day, I can be a leader for this club. It would be my dream.*