Victory can open the door for young Blues
PEP WILL BE WATCHING AS CITY GO FOR YOUTH CUP FINAL GLORY AGAINST CHELSEA
PEP Guardiola has become the Big Brother of the City academy… watching every move the young players make.
But the rising stars of the youth team – who take on Chelsea in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final at the CFA Stadium tonight – don’t mind the attention one little bit.
Indeed, Brahim Diaz, one of the most promising products of the City talent factory, has welcomed the added pressure of knowing Pep is taking such a keen interest.
“Pep is always watching our games,” Brahim said. “Even if he is not here, he is watching our clips. He loves football and will be watching the Youth Cup.”
Brahim made his first-team debut this season as a substitute in the EFL Cup win at Swansea, while Stockport lad Phil Foden has also had a place on the bench and England youth player Jadon Sancho, who has only just turned 17, has caught the eye.
Guardiola has already dangled a big carrot in front of the youngsters by promising to take four or five of them on the pre-season tour of the USA – auditioning for places in the first-team squad next season. And that is a huge incentive. “He likes to move the youth players up and if we keep doing well, maybe we will get a chance. Why not?” said Brahim.
City have lost the last two Youth Cup finals to Chelsea, but the feeling this year is that they are much closer in standard, and have several players, like Diaz, who already have experience of playing in the final.
Defenders Joel Latibeaudiere and Jacob Davenport – as well as Brahim, Sancho, striker Lukas Nmecha and midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru – took part in last season’s final and DeleBashiru was even on the bench the previous year as a 15-year-old!
“Last year, it was challenging but this year we have to win because we have a good team – individually and as a team,” said Brahim.
“We’ll go for it and if we play as a team, we can win it this year.
“It doesn’t matter if you play bad or good, you have to win.
“We can win because we have so many good players in different positions.
“You have to play everywhere they need you. You are improving the more games you play. It doesn’t matter where or for which team. It’s not about age or level – we are all at the same level.”