Manchester United youngster Willy Kambwala was a composed presence on the pitch on his first ever start at Old Trafford.
Willy Kambwala, 19, was named in the starting line-up as Manchester United drew 2-2 with Liverpool.
Former centre-back Rio Ferdinand picked him out after the game as his chosen man of the match, showing respect for how the teenager coped with the pressure of the occasion and intensity of the fixture.
But what caught our eye was a scene just before kick-off, where Willy Kambwala showed what a selfless individual he is.
Willy Kambwala helped Manchester United mascot
A moment seen on television and captured on camera saw Willy Kambwala and the Manchester United team line up before kick-off for the usual pre-match routine.
While the picture above does not show it clearly, it was raining at Old Trafford at the time and one of the young mascots was feeling the cold.
Kambwala took off his jacket and wrapped it around the youngster to try and warm him up and protect him from the rain. He was the only Manchester United player to do so.
This isn’t a knock on his teammates, their mascots may not have indicated they were cold or struggling with the weather.
Kambwala could see that his mascot needed some warmth, and he selflessly gave his own jacket away to help the young fan out.
It was a touching moment, a classy act from the 19-year-old, when he could have been forgiven if his mind was elsewhere, ahead of his second ever start for the club, first of 2024, and first at Old Trafford.
Willy Kambwala followed up with strong performance
Willy Kambwala followed up this pre-game moment with a focused and composed performance in a high-intensity and at times chaotic game.
While next weekend’s game away at Bournemouth will provide a very different type of challenge, Kambwala came through this one very well.
He has shown he has the talent, raw skills on which he can build. After an injury-hit time in United’s academy, Kambwala is making up for lost time.
He is a player United fans have high hopes for, and an individual who supporters can already be proud of.