Gareth Taylor’s young charges maintained their unbeaten start to 2020 with a hugely impressive 5-2 win at Reading in the Under-18 Premier League Cup semi-final.
It was the latest fine display from City’s Under-18s who are also top of the Under 18 Premier League North and through to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
And McAtee says the bond and camaraderie amongst the squad has played a major part in those impressive statistics.
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“I think there’s great chemistry in the squad. Obviously, a few of us have been together for a few years and the new lads who have come in are great and blended in straight away.
“I think we are improving every week and individuals are getting stronger as well
“We’re doing really well across all the competitions and everyone is happy and enjoying their football.
“But no-one is getting too carried away – we just want to keep going game by game.
“We have a big league match away at Liverpool next weekend and the focus is on that now to see if we can get the three points there.”
McAtee and his Under 18 colleagues produced an accomplished all-round display at Bearwood Park against a robust Reading outfit with Storm Dennis providing an extra obstacle.
The attacking midfielder capped a fine induvial performance with a brace of goals – the second a spectacular 20-yard strike which rounded off the win.
And he said the squad were eagerly looking forward to next month’s showpiece final against Stoke City, who beat Chelsea 2-1 in Saturday’s other semi-final.
“It was a great win in very tough conditions, against a very physical Reading team, but we put in a good all-round performance,” McAtee added.
“Now that we are in the final again, we are hungry to repeat what the side did last year and lift the Cup.
“We know it will be a tough final against Stoke – whether we are at home or away – but we will give it our all.
“Personally, I was really happy to get the two goals – especially my second as that wasn’t a bad strike! – but the main thing was trying to contribute to the team to help us win.”
