Michael Carrick has admitted he is ‘disappointed’ at Manchester City‘s decision to stage the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United at the Joie Stadium, rather than at the 53,000-capacity Etihad Stadium. The two clubs’ academy sides will lock horns in the first Manchester derby Youth Cup final in 40 years next Thursday, yet City insist their first-team ground is unavailable as they work to complete the opening of the North Stand redevelopment.
United put forward a proposal to host the match at Old Trafford, but City rejected the suggestion, preferring to retain home advantage. The fixture will now be held at their 7,000-capacity ground at the training complex, which is normally used for academy and women’s matches. The decision has drawn considerable criticism from United supporter groups, with the away side handed just 968 tickets for the showpiece occasion. Carrick has now made his feelings known.
“I’m disappointed, to be honest. I think getting to the Youth Cup final always seems to have been a thing where you play at the main stadium and it’s such a showcase event for players of that age group,” he said.
“I think I’ve had some amazing memories, some of my best memories, in that competition of playing with your close mates and it’s a shame that it hasn’t worked out for whatever reason.
“But listen, for the boys to go there, it’s a fantastic game, it’s a great opportunity. I’m sure the game itself will be good, and I’m looking forward to going and supporting the boys.”
Carrick has been an enthusiastic advocate of United’s academy teams since assuming the position of first-team head coach in January. He has frequently attended Youth Cup matches, including undertaking a six-hour round journey to Oxford for their fifth round encounter at the Kassam Stadium.
United have been drawn at home in every other round this campaign and have staged all of those fixtures at Old Trafford. Carrick also understands what it requires to deliver in a Youth Cup final, having scored in West Ham’s 9-0 triumph against Coventry City across two legs in 1999.
United last featured in the final in 2022, when over 67,000 supporters filled Old Trafford to watch them defeat Nottingham Forest. Carrick was present at that fixture as a spectator and witnessed directly what it signified to the young players participating, which only heightens his disappointment at a squandered opportunity this campaign.
“I was at that game, the Forest game [was a] special special night, to see the stadium full for a game like that,” he said. “It was kind of what you’d hoped really for that, but it is what it is and there’s nothing from what I know that can be done about it. It’s kind of agreed, and hopefully, as years go by it can be flipped to the main stadiums.”