Scott McTominay has revealed that he doesn't like the rule that means youth players at Manchester United must wear black boots, but admitted that the rule is the reason for the academy's success.
On Sunday United will field at least one youth product in their side for the 4000th match in a row with McTominay to be one of several in the starting line up against Everton.
Speaking to the Sun, the Scotsman explained that he didn't like the rule about black boots but sticking to it meant no one had an ego and that brings success, saying, "I probably couldn't tell you one player in the club who likes wearing black boots.
"But it was the rules and something accustomed to every academy player and if someone tried to come out in red boots it's like 'you're no different to any of us so get your black boots back on until you earn the respect and right to wear coloured boots'.
"I didn't like the black boots. But you had to do it. You had to respect the rules.
"There are no big egos, there's no young kids coming in wearing jewellery and looking a bit flash, that's not the case at this club."
Continuing on about how the 'DNA' of the system goes through the team he added, "You don't realise at the time how much little things like that at the time are going to help you.
"You think 'this is rubbish' and 'what's going on?' but then you get older, you look back and you think all of those little things have stood you in so much good stead.
"Now I look back and, being one of the older academy players now, those standards have been passed through, so everybody has the idea of what a Manchester United player should look and be like, the DNA that comes with wearing that badge."
McTominay was criticised a lot last season and earlier this season but the 23-year-old's development has come on loads this season and become an integral part of the midfield that is looking better in recent weeks.
Both he and Fred have started becoming a solid midfield unit and the team now looks less heavily reliant on the absent Paul Pogba.
After 4000 matches of youth products it'll be interesting to see how many more matches United's run can go on for, McTominay, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, James Garner, Brandon Williams et al suggests it won't be anytime soon.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/pub-talk-scott-mctominay-says-he-doesnt-like-manchester-united-academy-rule-20191214
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