Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Chelsea are in front of Manchester United in the regeneration game as the kids they are basing their future on all have experience on loan.
Both clubs are pinning their return to glory on the crop of youngsters coming through their academies – many of whom are likely to be on show tomorrow night when the pair meet in the Carabao Cup (8.05pm).
However, Solskjaer claims that Chelsea’s wider use of the loan system has given his players vital Championship experience while his kids are having to come in cold.
“Frank has got players that have been on loan for one or two seasons in the Championship,” the United manager said.
“The difference between my youngsters is that they are almost stepping right now onto the scene.
“You can see, Axel Tuanzebe has missed the last couple of games for us, but because he has been out on loan you can see the benefit.
“Chelsea’s young players benefit from that now. They are a mature young team.”
Solskjaer nevertheless said that the baptism of fire he has had to give a number of his younger players this season will serve them well in the future.
“Character will be revealed in tough times, and I think they have done excellent, the young kids,” he said.
“I can’t give them any more responsibility and I couldn’t be any more happy with many of the youngsters.
“We know it’s been tough, and we know that we have asked a lot of them because Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, loads of other players that have been injured, and for us the youngsters have stepped up in a difficult period. But in the end they will be stronger for it.”
English teenagers Brandon Williams and James Garner are among those likely to feature at Stamford Bridge in a much-changed United line-up.
“Jimmy played 10-15 minutes against Norwich and was excellent, calmed us down and made some good decisions when we wanted to see the game out,” Solskjaer said.
“We have not made a decision on who is going to play, but you will probably see the two of them.”
United beat Chelsea 4-0 on the opening day of the Premier League season, though the Blues are currently on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions.
