MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville reignited his criticism of Manchester City’s youth policy following the encouraging perfromance of City teenager Phil Foden.
The youngster was one the few positives in City’s defeat to Manchester United in Houston – and the debate about kids getting a chance at the Etihad has kicked off again.
Neville was hugley impressed with Stocport-born Foden and took to social media to stick the boot into City for not bringing enough youngster through.
The forrmer United defender replied to a tweet saying: “He’s at the wrong Manchester club for getting a sustained opportunity.
“City have a lot of great kids, they should be playing.”
One City fan hit back at Neville replying: “What do you want him(Guardiola) to do? Not win any trophies again?
“This is a critical season for Pep, no messing about.”
There were plenty from the blue half of Manchester quick to defend theri club, some did agree with Red Nev.
Latest Man City transfer news
Another replied: “I would agree to be fair, we have Patrick Roberts who’s had no chance, risk of losing.
“Foden is incredible and there’s so many more.”
Neville’s comments look to have been backed up by City boss Pep Guardiola himslef.
City’s Abu Dhabi owners have invested millions in their academy set-up with the same hopes Roman Abramovich has at Chelsea to produce a regular and reliable source of talent for the the first team manager’s disposal.
Last month the Spainard warned City’s kids they won’t get much of a look in during his second season in England and blames the current system for not preparing academy players for the pressures of first-team football.
Pep revealed to Telegraph Sport: "The only problem the managers have in the first teams with the second teams is that the league they [the second teams] compete in it doesn’t count, so the gap between the first team and second team when they compete is so big.
"They [the young players] will come to the United States on our pre-season tour so we are going to see how they are, they are 16, 17 or 18."
"The quality is there, but maybe not in the next year."
Guardiola added: "Next season most of them will be training with us and we are going to see how they are.
"The second teams in Spain, at Barcelona or Real Madrid, play in front of 40,000 people and every weekend in the second league.
"In Italy or Germany they are so tough, so demanding, they are playing with guys who are 28, 29 or 30 and that is the best way to improve, not training with the first team sometimes.
“Here they don’t compete, they don’t play with each other, they are good guys but after they have to play in Old Trafford and Stamford Bride.
“I don’t know if they are able to compete with them. But the league is what it is here and we have to deal with that.”
City are also fighting to keep Academy star Jadon Sancho at the club.
The 17-year-old forward has concerns about a pathway to the first team at the Eithad, despite Guardiola already been impressed with the England Under-17 star in training.
Arsenal ans Tottenham are monitoring his situation and the youngster stalls on signing a three-year deal offered.
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog
Leave a comment