The City youngsters launch our 2025/26 Under-18 Premier League season at home to Leeds United at the CFA on Saturday morning in a game that will be screened live on CITY+.
Looking ahead to the new campaign after an intense and successful pre-season build-up, the Lead Coach says he has been hugely encouraged by the hunger and desire amongst the group as they seek to follow up last season’s Under-18 North title triumph.
“My feeling is they want to create more together as a team and you can feel it and see it in the atmosphere in training sessions,” said Reiss.
“Everyone wants to work hard and to try to increase the quality.
“As a coach you can be very thankful for this - it is easy to work with them - they seem to be hungry.
“It has impressed me a lot from the first day.
“It is also important to start with a good feeling and the best way [to try and achieve that] is a successful first game.
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“Success in the best possible way would be the winning the game but at least [let’s try to] start the season with a good feeling that would be performance in terms of intensity and quality on the pitch.”
Reiss oversaw a hugely first campaign at the helm, guiding the City youngsters to the Under-18 Premier League North title before the young Blues suffered narrow losses to Aston Villa in both the Under 18 national final and FA Youth Cup final.
For the German, the frustration of those high-profile losses will serve as further fuel and motivation looking ahead to this season.
“The best way to improve players is to go through hard times like this, tough games, good games, emotional moments,” Reiss pointed out.
“It was a successful season but, of course, we want to win every game and hopefully the players have the same motivation as me
“Now maybe we are one per cent more motivated after losing two finals, [so let’s try to] reach again the finals please and when we can reach them, I want - and the players want - to win them.”
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