Teden Mengi is joining Derby County! But who is the Manchester United youngster? We spoke with the United Journal to find out all about him, his career to date and what Derby County and Derby supporters can expect from the young man.
It is being reported that Teden Mengi’s move to Derby is imminent. What are your thoughts about the move?
To confirm, yeah, Teden Mengi is joining Derby County today. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has confirmed it in today's press conference. There's a lot of optimism from, the United fans, about the move considering he is joining Derby managed by none other than Wayne Rooney. Derby are short of finances so Rooney came to United for help to fix Derby's defence, and Mengi looks a good addition for the Rams. We believe he can get some valuable game time under his belt in the Championship with Derby and continue his development, so there's only positive thoughts about the move from our part!
Is he well thought of at Manchester United? Does he have the potential to be a first-team player at Old Trafford?
Yes, he is one of the academy players that is most talked about at Manchester United. Tall, strong, solid in defence and a more than capable leader with a winning mentality. He has already outgrown academy football so that's why he is being loaned to Championship to continue his next phase of development. He definitely has the potential to become not just a first-team player but a leader as well at Old Trafford — it's a matter of when instead of if.
Has he been around the senior set up at United, or is he strictly with the youth teams?
Mengi has been around the senior setup at United for quite a long time. He trained with the first team for sometime in the 2019/20 season, he even made his debut in United's Europa League match against LASK Linz that season too! And he looked solid that day. Ahead of the current season, he was promoted to the first team in September. So yeah he has a taste of training with one of the top coaches at the club and his development is also being personally tracked by Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
What are his strengths? His weaknesses?
About his strengths and weaknesses - I would suggest you to have a look at this article which details his attributes in detail.
He is a defender. What kind of defender is he? Is he a ball playing CB or an old-fashioned CB?
He is a modern centre-back. He is can play as a no-nonsense, old-fashioned or a ball-playing defender, according to situations/instructions. And to tell you, he has looked efficient always bar one or two matches. One day, just before an academy match, our left-back was injured and nobody was there to replace him. Then the manager Neil Wood asked him if he can play left-back. Without hesitation, he agreed to play there. Such is his mentality. He can do anything for the team.
Derby had Fikayo Tomori on loan from Chelsea a few year ago. Is Teden Mengi a similar style player as Tomori?
I am sorry, but I can't give you an answer to the Tomori question as I haven't been able to watch Tomori play. Hope Mengi can have a similar or bigger contribution for The Rams this season.
Derby manager Wayne Rooney likes players who are committed to the cause and give 100% in training sessions and games. Is Mengi this kind of player?
100%. He is always committed for the team. That's why Wayne Rooney picked him out among the vast range of options. Like I said, he's a leader with a winner's mentality. He wants to win. He always gives his 200% for the team. Let me give you an example — few weeks ago, in an academy match, Man United were beaten 6-1 by the Chelsea academy. Mengi played in that match, so did our French prospect Hannibal Mejbri. After the match, Mejbri posted a smiling pic with a Chelsea player who was French and whom he knew. Mengi got so annoyed that he commented under the post "Too many friends and not too many enemies is the reason we lost like this" and got involved in a heated argument with him. Such is Teden Mengi.
He’s made one first team appearance for United. What were your thoughts when he made his debut.
Yeah, he made his debut for Manchester United in the 2019/20 season, in the UEFA Europa League match against LASK Linz. He looked solid in that game, hardly did any wrong, looked promising.
Do you think he can adapt to Championship football?
I think yes. He can very much adapt to Championship football under the tutelage of Wayne Rooney and his staff at Derby. His physicality is a big plus for the league. We can't wait to see him perform for Derby!
What will it take for him to be successful in Derby?
If he wishes, he can definitely be successful and play a key role in Derby's current season due to his abilities, potential, mentality — all of which I summed above already.
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