Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists their youth system remains a success.
The quality of graduates coming through the academy has been questioned in recent years.
But Ferguson told MUTV: "I think the supporters particularly respond very, very well when a young player gets his opportunity. Young people have to be given an opportunity, particularly if they've got ability. If you wait too long, they just stagnate and you lose them.
"You can never afford that, in my time in particular, and there was always a time when you had to assess exactly where they're going. Whether they are going to be first-team players or get careers elsewhere. The great thing about United that still exists is there are probably around 90 players playing in England who started their careers at United's Academy.
"It tells you the operation produces not just young players but good human beings, young people who can go anywhere. That's a lot down to the staff we've had at United."
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