Kevin Whitcher
A friend sent me a interview with former Manchester United player Nicky Butt a couple of days back, and it got me thinking. There are a couple of things that struck me in it. So just to give it some context, here’s the interview in full for those that don’t want to read it on manutd.com…
Nicky Butt has explained how Manchester United are working to breed a winning mentality and has challenged four first-team stars to ensure that it continues.
United's Head of Academy, who was part of the club's famous Class of '92, knows what it takes to come up through the ranks and turn talent into trophies.
In a fascinating interview with ManUtd.com, Butt gave an insight into the beliefs that he and his coaching staff are trying to instill, and says you have to be a winner to succeed at Old Trafford.
“I think it’s massive to develop mentally," he said. "Wherever it is, you’ve got to have the right mental attitude towards work and towards other people. You’ve got to be a good person, and I believe that, even though a few inevitably slip through the net as in any other walk of life, we produce good people here. Hopefully they work in football but, if not, they go on to do other things successfully.
“It’s drilled into you from an early age. It’s all well and good being a United player, but you need to be a winner. Ultimately, if you’re not winning things here, you won’t last long, and that’s a fact. The manager will look to someone else who can win.
"This club has built its foundations on winning, we’ve always won things and been successful. We’ve had dry spells, like any club, but we always get back to winning. If you’re not a winner, if you’re not brought up with that winning mentality, you’re going to struggle in the first team."
Asked about the club's wider ethos, Butt said it's up to Academy graduates Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba, as well as new club captain Michael Carrick, to carry on those traditions, particularly when it comes to new signings.
“People like Marcus, Jesse and Paul, people who know the system, they have to carry the club now. As well as Michael Carrick, who knows the place inside out. These young players who come in for a lot of money might not know the club or the environment or the area, so it’s up to those guys to incorporate them into United and instill those beliefs.
"They need to be introducing them to Kath on reception [at the Aon Training Complex], letting them know how long she’s been here at the club. They have to know about how many players she’s seen come through those doors down the years and decades. They need to recognise the laundry people, the canteen ladies, the chefs, the groundstaff and security lads – they’re part of our family and you need to say 'good morning' to them every single day.
"When you come to United, the players are the superstars and the ones everyone wants an autograph from but, when you come into this building, we’re all equal. We all have a role and, without one, we don’t have a team. Without the kit guys or the bus drivers, without the security guards and canteen staff, there wouldn’t be a football club. It’s important for the players to let the new lads know what Manchester United is all about."
So, the couple of things that struck me were the stuff regarding the importance of winning. “If you’re not a winner, if you’re not brought up with that winning mentality, you’re going to struggle in the first team.” Brought up with that winning mentality. It was absent at Arsenal for many seasons after the clear out of the Invincibles, and the notion that finishing in the top four should be something celebrated with great vigour after beating the likes of West Brom and Newcastle United away on the final day of the season to finish a distance behind the champions. Simply put, the bar at Arsenal seems to be set lower.
The other thing that resonated was the idea that the canteen staff at the training ground had equal value – when everyone turned up for work there – as the superstars. That spells to me a real sense of values. Humility and respect rather than arrogance. I am not saying that the Arsenal players necessarily do not value the London Colney staff in the same way, but I get the feeling the United playing staff may be more grounded, possibly in less of a comfort bubble than at Arsenal, where people do not seem to be so accountable for falling short, if one believes the club should be challenging for the top honours. It’s the reason that United have changed managers three times since the departure of Alex Ferguson. Domestic cups are good, yes, but not enough to save your job. If United do not make a title challenge this season, Mourinho will be out on his ear. The Europa League victory bought him time.
I often hear the manager and the CEO talking about Arsenal’s values, so did a Google search to see exactly what these were defined as. Two of the highest results seemed to link these values with not spending money on transfer fees, which was enlightening.
First up, in the summer of 2013, a few weeks before the opening day defeat at home to Aston Villa and the outcry that forced the club into spending big on Mesut Ozil, we have this from Arsene Wenger:
"The fans, the players and everybody is reassured by big names. But what is important is that we don't need numbers, we need quality. For years we were out of the race for the top-level transfers but we are coming back now because we are in a better financial situation and also because of Financial Fair Play. That will give everybody a bit more even ground. We must rely on the quality of our work, on the style of our play and the fact we develop our own players. We will only use financial resources to bring in one or two players who will give us something more. It's very important that we keep to our strengths and what managed to get us through this period.”
So, to break that down, the strengths (or values if one reads the headline) are as follows:
The quality of our work
The style of our play
The fact we develop our own players
Ok, so wouldn’t the quality of the work be reflected in performances, results and points? Has the quality of the work improved at all since the move from Highbury over a decade ago? Surely it needs to or Arsenal will never win another title.
The style of our play is an interesting one. Arsenal matches can be entertaining for the neutral because so often the side will play attacking football at the sacrifice of defensive solidity. So goals both ends (or when facing a better team, plenty at one of them), open football and drama. What's not to like? Nothing if you have no interest in the Gunners winning trophies.
As for developing players, let’s take the current assumed first choice eleven. Bellerin came young, so fair enough. Any others? Ramsey was developed by Cardiff and played in an FA Cup final before arriving at Arsenal, so he can’t be claimed. Where are the values here?
