---
title: "van Gaal’s youth policy backed by under-21 manager"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/12/02/van-gaals-youth-policy-backed-21-manager/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2015-12-02T15:50:14Z"
modified: "2015-12-02T15:50:14Z"
---

# van Gaal’s youth policy backed by under-21 manager

Manchester United’s under-21 manager Warren Joyce believes that Louis van Gaal’s youth policy is working at Old Trafford.

The likes of Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Sean Goss and Marcus Rashford have all been in and around the first-team picture in recent weeks, while Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira have made the permanent step up to the first-team during the Dutchman’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Some say that the Reds’ relatively small squad and injuries have contributed to the amount of young players being selected by van Gaal, but Joyce believes that the Dutchman’s faith in youth makes it clear that if you impress, you will be given a chance, something that is clearly shown by Lingard’s recent run and subsequent England call-up.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/12/496134450.jpg)

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Joyce said:

> *It’s obviously massive for the club and young players.*
>
> *I’m sure all boys around Manchester must be looking and thinking if they do any good at Manchester United they will get a chance. We haven’t got a lot of numbers so they do get a chance.*
>
> *They get worked, they get opportunities to train with the first team regularly and it’s the same old adage: if you do well enough, you’ll get a chance and if you do well enough when you’re in, you’ll keep there.*
>
> *I think Jesse’s shown that this season.*

United’s young players have also benefitted from senior players dropping down to gain match fitness at Under-21 level, as they aim to improve fitness levels after returning from injury. Pereira, Marouane Fellaini and Sergio Romero were all in action as the Reds beat Liverpool 3-2 on Monday night.

![Gareth Copley/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmanutd.com/readmanutd/2015/12/489683312.jpg)

And Joyce believes that youngsters can learn from the experience of first-team players as they play alongside them:

> *To develop young players they’ve got to have a mix.* *They’ve got to play with men and they’ve got to play against men. Sometimes in this \[under-21\] league we don’t play against enough men.*
>
> *The manager has played some players when they need games and it’s a good experience for the boys because they see proper pros, how they are, how they react, how they conduct themselves in the dressing room and on the pitch so I think that is a good education.*
>
> *It’s obviously more difficult for \[the senior players\].* *It’s a test for them, what their attitudes like. It’s alright saying you’ve got a good attitude, but you find out when you drop down to these games.*
>
> *If you don’t do it properly and focus for 90 minutes you can mug yourself off and that’s the difficulty for those boys.*