Think of it how you will but the academy dressing room at Manchester United actually contains a picture of a certain Lionel Messi cleaning his own boots. For whatever conceivable reason it had been put up previously, it should now serve the ideal purpose of sending out the perfect message to the club’s current stars of tomorrow who are suffering from delusions of grandeur overestimating their own self importance.
Henry Winter had – in a lengthy piece for The Times in 2018 – made specific mention of the image of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi cleaning his boots after taking to the field for Argentina against Croatia at Upton Park in 2016 being displayed on the wall, that it served as a fitting reminder for the youngsters coming through to remain solidly grounded.
After all, if arguably the greatest player to ever play the sport is not above getting down to wiping dirt off his own boots after a game, then others should perhaps adopt the same mentality and practise humility.
The same report had also focused on Scott McTominay’s emergence as a first-team player for United after the midfielder made his 20th appearance of the 2017/18 season in United’s 3-2 win over Manchester City.
Although already a fairly established member of the side back in those days, the midfielder had always remained grounded, as was evidenced by him leaving his car at Carrington’s academy car park whenever he turned up at the club’s training grounds.
Michael Carrick, the former legendary midfielder and ex assistant coach to Solskjaer, had in the past hailed McTominay as his successor in the United side, and praised the Scotland international for the way he conducts himself, both on and off the pitch.
“He goes about his business, he comes in, he is always in doing extra training. He’s desperate to do well and he’s always looking for those little things to improve on.
“All the glitz and the glamour that can surround young players these days, he doesn’t seem too interested in that, which is fantastic, especially at this stage of his career.
“It’s about making a career, that’s how it is. You can’t live like you’ve had a career before you’ve had the career – you’ve got to earn it.”