Third time lucky
City and Chelsea. We’ve been in this position before.
This is the third consecutive FA Youth Cup final between the two clubs who are starting to build a duopoly in English youth football. Chelsea have emerged victorious in the previous two campaigns but there’s a feeling that City are better placed to knock the Londoners off their perch this time around.
Many of City’s current side including Brahim Diaz, Jadon Sancho, Lukas Nmecha, Joel Latibeaudiere and Jacob Davenport took part in last season’s defeat and will be better for the experience.
Attacking options
City’s 4-3-3 leaves plenty of room for a variety of attacking and creative players but it still might not be enough for Lee Carsley!
Nmecha and Lorenzo Gonzalez are competing for the central strikers role while Sancho, Diaz and Luke Bolton will all stake a claim for the two wide berths. Further back in midfield, Phil Foden and Tom Dele-Bashiru will hope to occupy the two positions either side of the sitting midfielder but may miss out if Diaz is chosen in a midfield capacity.
With attacking full-back options like Tyreke Wilson and Demeaco Duhaney too, there simply isn’t enough room for Carsley to pick all of his talented youngsters. It does mean though that he will have a plethora of options should City require a change in personnel.
Goals, goals, goals
Both sides won their semi-finals by an aggregate score of 9-2.
That’s no mean feat against the likes of Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur and it demonstrates just how lethal these youngsters are.
Criticism of youngsters is often that their decision making leaves a lot to be desired but, the sheer number of goals City have amassed this season (77 in 25 league matches and 22 in six Youth Cup ties) seems to highlight that this is no ordinary collection of young footballers.
Big stage
Brahim Diaz spoke about using the FA Youth Cup as a chance to impress first team staff at the club earlier this week. That’s the way these players should be viewing the occasion.
With a sell-out Academy Stadium crowd expected and the match live on ITV4, this is the biggest occasion in the fledgling careers of these players. Come on City!
Keep up with the FA Youth Cup final and all the latest EDS and academy news by following @ManCityAcademy on Twitter.
