The second leg of the FA Youth Cup final takes place tonight and will see the young charges of Chelsea and Manchester City go head-to-head.
In recent years the two sides have dominated youth football, in particular in the Youth Cup where the two sides are contesting the final of the competition for the third year on the trot.
Chelsea came out on top in the past two years, with a 4-2 aggregate win last year and a 5-2 overall victory a year earlier where Tammy Abraham, on fire on loan at Bristol City in the Championship, scored three goals across the two games.
Advert
Like the first leg was last season, the tie is 1-1 and nicely poised for the second meeting at Stamford Bridge tonight.
City have youngster Phil Foden to thank for levelling matters going into the second leg, after the Stockport-born youth player bagged a wonderfully taken solo goal in the second half.
If you have seen him in action, Foden is one of the youngsters that you would tip to make it in the first-team at City, as difficult as the task is. He is already firmly on Pep Guardiola's radar, having featured on the bench in a Champions League group match against Celtic earlier in the season.
Advert
In an exclusive interview with SPORTbible, the talented 16-year old, who predominantly plays as a No.10 or on the flanks, says being a professional footballer has always been an ambition:
"Since very young my Dad always used to train me and it just went from there. I always wanted to be a footballer and believed that one day I would be one of the best in the world."
Image: PA
A high target from Foden, who cites two of the most technically gifted players of our generation as his two biggest inspirations in football.
Advert
A silky left-footed player with lightning quick feet, supreme dribbling ability and vision for that killer pass, Foden studies both Lionel Messi and David Silva on a regular basis and looks to learn from the duo.
"Messi is my biggest inspiration, it doesn't get any better than him - I always watch him closely and try to learn from the best. I also enjoy watching David Silva.
As aforementioned above, Foden was rewarded for his fine form at youth level with a place on the substitutes bench in a Champions League game at the Etihad. Had he entered the fray at 16 years and 193 days old, he would have become the club's youngest ever Champions League debutant as well as the fourth youngest in all of Europe in Champions League history.
Advert
It wasn't to be, as Foden had to watch the entirety of the 1-1 draw from the bench, but it was an invaluable experience for the young prodigy.
"Being at City since I was five years old, it was a massive achievement for me to make the bench. I enjoyed every second of it and just wanted to make my debut and make my family proud.
"It was good to get to know how the first-team work but hopefully I will get another opportunity and get on so I can show Pep I'm capable of playing in the first-team.
"Mikel Arteta just told me to keep doing what I'm doing because Pep is always watching."
Advert
Image: PA
Indeed, Pep is always watching - that was evident as the City boss was animatedly watching on from the stands in the first leg at the City Football Academy.
Foden is confident of going all the way and lifting the coveted FA Youth Cup this year and hopes he and his talented teammates impress Guardiola in doing so.
"I'm very confident we are going to win because I believe in our team. I know how good we can we be, we just need to finish our chances and work hard as a team and we will be okay.
"Hopefully we can all show Pep how good we can be if he is watching."
Image: PA
Finally, as a boyhood blue, Foden stresses how much it would mean for him to become a first-team regular at City at some point down the line if his rapiddevelopment continues. He even plans to remain at City for the full duration of his career.
"It would mean everything to me since I was young I've always dreamed of playing for City in my career. I wouldn't want to play anywhere else, I want to retire at City and be a first-team regular."
Tonight's football action is packed with Premier League games but there are plenty of reasons to watch tonight's Youth Cup final on ITV4 tonight and Phil Foden is one of them. Remember the name.
We want to hear from you. What do you want to see more of on SPORTbible? Let us know by taking this quick survey. Cheers.
Topics: Manchester City, Phil Foden, mcfc
