'Elanga is a great example' — The inside story of Manchester United's latest FA Youth Cup tilt

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

It has been 11 years since Manchester United last won the FA Youth Cup.

Images of Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison, and Jesse Lingard featuring in a star-studded side that defeated Sheffield United, captained by Harry Maguire, remain fresh in the memory of those who followed United at youth level.

More than a decade later, and United, the most successful team in the tournament's history, are looking for their 11th title — something they will look to take one step closer towards on Thursday night.

United are at the quarter-final stage and host Leicester at Old Trafford, with the winners set to face either Wolves or Brighton in the semi-finals.

At the helm is manager Travis Binnion, who himself was just 24 the last time United were celebrating their last FA Youth Cup triumph. He wasn't celebrating it, though.

Binnion was in the opposing dugout as assistant manager of Sheffield United when they were defeated by the young Reds 6-3 on aggregate, losing 4-1 in front of 23,000 at Old Trafford in the decisive second-leg.

"I've got good memories," the former Sheffield United academy chief told MEN Sport. "Good memories of the first-leg, not so much of the second leg. We got battered at Old Trafford. You look at the side United had that day. It was fantastic.

"I was the assistant to John Pemberton. We had a very good run and then came up against a fantastic side. Some of the boys in that team are in the first team now. One was obviously with us at Sheffield United, who now captains the football club. We want our boys to go on and have the careers that those lads are having, and this is just another stepping stone to that."

United booked their place in the quarter-final this year with their best performance in the competition so far