Pep Guardiola named 15 players under the age of 20 in Manchester City matchday squads last season (Finlay Burns, Luke Mbete, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia, Oscar Bobb, Kayky, Cole Palmer, Ben Knight, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, CJ Egan-Riley, James McAtee, Cieran Slicker, Yan Couto, Samuel Edozie, Tommy Doyle), handing 34 appearances to 11 of them (1188 minutes of playing time).
Palmer is the only player from the list that is still playing in the first-team a year later, so City’s youngsters didn’t manage to kick on. Guardiola hasn’t used anywhere near as many U20 players in his squad this season 2022/23 (4) – Delap, Rico Lewis, Luke Mbete, Alex Robertson – while Lewis is the only teenager to make an appearance.
Palmer (17 appearances) and Wilson-Esbrand (2 appearances) are the only 20-year-olds to be given minutes on the pitch, so Guardiola hasn’t used the kids as frequently. Pep has handed 1310 minutes of football to his U21s, but that number is shared across just three players (Lewis, Palmer, Wilson-Esbrand).
There are four 22-year-olds that have been handed 92 appearances collectively, so younger players are still getting a look in. But Guardiola has made the decision not to call upon as many hot prospects from the academy.
In other news, journalist says Pep Guardiola ‘wants to retain’ Arnau Martinez over Kyle Walker
For more Manchester City news and opinion, please follow our Vital Football page on Facebook – Vital Man City. Click the link and get involved!
Can you name these Man City players from the 2000s? Test your knowledge, take the quiz and challenge your friends and family to beat your score