With their first team looking down on everyone else at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea's class of 2008 gave a glimpse into the future last night as they eliminated Manchester United from the FA Youth Cup in this third-round match at Old Trafford.
For the second successive season, United fell at an early hurdle after Fabio Borini sealed a fine victory which brought a smile back to Luiz Felipe Scolari's face after the Champions League hiccup against Bordeaux.
With Paul Scholes peering down from the main stand, United's Danny Welbeck, who has made just three senior appearances, was the only player to have already made his first-team debut. At 18, Welbeck, who announced his arrival on the Premier League stage with a stunning strike on his league debut against Stoke this month, found himself taking on the unaccustomed role of wise old head in a team which included Oliver Gill, the 18-year-old son of David, United's chief executive.
United's Ravel Morrison, 15, produced a mature finish to fire his side into an eighth-minute lead soon after a moment of hesitation had cost Welbeck the chance of breaking the deadlock. Yet Chelsea hit back with two goals in three minutes at the end of the half, one from the French youngster Gael Kakuta, the other from Frank Nouble.
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his frustration this season at his first team's failure to take their chances. It is a disease which seems to have filtered down to the youth team. They created many opportunities in the second half but did not find the net until the last minute, Welbeck scoring from close range. Unfortunately for the lad, Ferguson had seen enough by then and had left the directors' box.
It did nothing to change the outcome. Chelsea, who were dogged, determined and worthy winners, had already grabbed a third and decisive goal through Borini, their Italian youth international.
It could have been worse for United but Daniel Philliskirk had a long-range effort well saved by the goalkeeper Gary Woods. If this is the future, then Chelsea can look forward with optimism. United's youngsters still have a thing or two to learn.
