As City’s Under 18’s ready themselves for the first leg of the Youth Cup final, Sven-Goran Eriksson has wished them well in their quest to bring the trophy back to the Club for the first time in 22 years.

The young Blues take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and MCFCTV.com will broadcast live commentary from kick off at 7.00pm.

Sven is hoping for the best, and he is already making plans for bringing some of the next generation of talented youngsters into his first team squad for next season.

“Good luck to them,” he says. “Jim Cassell was at Carrington this week and I told him to win a trophy for us.

“I know about them because I’ve seen their games this season and if I’ve not been at the game then I’ve seen the DVD afterwards. It’s extremely good for the Club to be another final and it’s further confirmation that the Academy is producing great players.

“Congratulations to them and we will win it this time – it will be good to have a trophy here!

“The plan is that some of them will work up here this season, but we are not sure at the moment exactly how many of them there will be.”

Michael Johnson, part of the team that lost narrowly in the final two years ago, also wished the lads well, adding:

“I wish them all the best, I’ve seen a few of this season’s games and they have a really good team this year. I don’t see why they can’t win it this time.”