Pep Guardiola sends message to Man City academy after third double title win in a row

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Pep Guardiola hailed the work done on and off the field as Manchester City's under-18s secured a third successive national title on Wednesday night.

The extra-time victory in the national final over southern division champions West Ham ensured City defended their national crown for the third season, adding to the under-23's third Premier League 2 title in a row.

Praising the youth team's title win this season, meaning no other side has won the national title since 2019, Guardiola mentioned the style of football that mirrors his treble-chasing first team. ALSO READ: City ride the storm to make Premier League history with academy treble-double “Our Under-18s have again done something special this season,” he said. “To defend the title they have won in the last two seasons and experience the pressure of a final shows the outstanding mentality of all players and staff. “The way they have played, taking the game to their opponents and always looking to score more goals, is a great display of the football we want to play at City. “I want to say a huge congratulations to [under-18s manager] Ben [Wilkinson], his staff and all the players.

Make the most of this special moment, I know it has taken a lot of hard work!” Outgoing academy director Jason Wilcox, who leaves City this summer to become Southampton's Director of Football, echoed the manager and hailed the work done over a number of years to achieve such an unprecedented feat.