Ashley Young responds after being denied chance to play vs son Tyler in FA Cup game
Today at 04:49 AM
Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ after he was denied the chance to play against his son Tyler during Everton’s 2-0 win over Peterborough in the FA Cup on Thursday night.
The father and son duo were set to make FA Cup history by playing against each other in their third-round tie at Goodison Park.
Both started the game as substitutes but while Ashley Young, 39, was brought on in the second half, 18-year-old Tyler Young was left on the bench by Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson.
After the game, Ferguson, who is the son of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, revealed that he received criticism from an Everton player over his decision to not bring on Tyler Young as a substitute in the second half.
Ashley Young looked a disconsolate figure when the full-time whistle was blown and in a post on X on Friday, the former Manchester United winger wrote that he is ‘gutted’.
Everton took the lead in the first half through Beto and sealed their win with Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty in the eighth minute of injury time.
Asked if it was a difficult decision to leave Tyler Young on the bench, Ferguson said: ‘Very, very difficult but I've got to do what I think is best for the team, as much as I wanted Tyler to get on.
‘If the game had been 2-0 at that point then I would have put him on but it's 1-0.
‘I've got to get a forward on, I've got to try and get something out of the game, I've got to do what's best for the team and we're not a charity case.
‘As much as I wanted Tyler to get on with his dad… one of their players had a bit of a pop at me which is bang out of order.
‘I've got to do what's best for the team and at that point, it's 1-0, I'm trying to get a result.'
Asked to elaborate on the remark from the Everton player, Ferguson said: ‘Listen, it was small things but nah, not for me, that.
‘I've got to do what's best for the team.’
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