Manchester United legend Gary Neville name-checked former managers Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal for giving many of the club's young players first team opportunities.
Neville spoke about the key role played by Class of 92 academy graduates in securing in the 1999 treble — the anniversary of which will be marked on Sunday in a at Old Trafford against Bayern Munich.
Neville is one of the United legends who will feature in the match.
And with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handing first team debuts to the likes of Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong and James Garner in his United tenure so far, Neville stressed that youth must continue to thrive.
“It’s critical for United that we continue to do this,” he told the United website.
“One of the great things over the last few years, which have been difficult years at the club, is you still see a lot of homegrown representation out on the pitch.
”When I was in Paris (for the Champions League comeback win over PSG), you think about Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira – players like that.
"Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard obviously weren’t playing that day but Marcus Rashford did. All these players have played this season and it is brilliant to see, particularly with the results that have been happening."
Neville then credited former managers for the role they played. McTominay was a favourite of Mourinho, and Van Gaal was renowned for handing youth players - including Marcus Rashford - opportunities in the first team.
“Credit still goes to Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal as well," Neville added. "As they gave some of these players opportunities. Even in difficult times, the club continues to try to give opportunities to young players and promote players from the academy.
"That isn’t always the case at other clubs.”
