Teden Mengi sets himself challenge after Manchester United debut

Manchester United's Teden Mengi during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Wednesday August 5, 2020.

Manchester United youngster Teden Mengi is hungry for more minutes in the first team after making his debut for the club in the win against LASK at Old Trafford.

Mengi, 18, has captained United's U18 side this season and was included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad for the Europa League knockout rounds.

The youngster was an unused substitute during the 5-0 rout in Austria and was once again named on the bench despite supporters calling for him to start the second leg at home.

Mengi replaced Timothy Fosu-Mensah six minutes from time for his senior debut and the defender revealed he was delighted to repay Solskjaer's faith in him.

"It's a great feeling. I'd like to thank everyone around me. My family, my teammates and everyone in the first-team made it very easy for me," Mengi told MUTV.

"The academy staff as well as the manager who gave me the opportunity. It's just the start. It's down to myself to keep kicking on but I'm very happy with it."

Mengi admitted it was a shame to make his first-team bow behind closed doors meaning his family and friends couldn't be in the stands to support him.

Nevertheless, he admitted it didn't take away from the 'moment of his life'.

He added: "Of course, everyone dreams of this moment. It's everyone's dream - to represent the biggest club in the world. Luckily enough, I got the chance today and I'm really chuffed with it.

"Everyone was telling me before the game and during half-time to be ready and that's what I did. Everyone was saying: 'Come on Teden, this is your moment now'.

"It's a big shame really because my mum pestered me all the time. She said: 'If you ever make your debut at Old Trafford, I'll be there watching you'. It's a shame she couldn't be here but it's the moment of my life. But it's time to kick on."

The 18-year-old believes his brief cameo has made him even hungrier to earn more first-team minutes and pinpointed Brandon William's progress as a huge motivational factor.

"I'm hungry for more definitely," he said. "Then again, it's just the start for me as a player. I need to keep kicking on, keep developing, keep the same attitude in training and everything I can do. Then I'll hopefully get more opportunities.

"Of course, watching Brandon [Williams], we both play in defence. When I saw him kicking on, it made me even hungrier. I thought 'why can't I do it?'"

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