Pep: Carabao Cup a great opportunity for Academy prospects to shine | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says the Carabao Cup is an ‘incredible opportunity’ for Academy players to gain valuable first-team experience.

His statement rang true last time out in the cup competition.

The boss handed Divine Mukasa and Heskey brothers Reigan and Jaden their competitive senior debuts in City’s 2-0 triumph over Huddersfield, with Stephen Mfuni and Kaden Braithwaite also on the bench.

And ahead of our fourth-round trip to Swansea on Wednesday 29 October, with kick-off in Wales scheduled for 19:45 (UK), the boss confirmed Mukasa will be involved in the squad again this week as the midfielder continues to gain valuable first-team experience.

“Divine [Mukasa] will come with us,” replied Pep when asked if any Academy players will be involved tomorrow night.

“I remember with Brahim Diaz, with Cole Palmer, I don’t know Morgan [Rogers], Tosin.

“Many players since I arrived in the Academy [have] played a lot in this competition.

“It’s an incredible opportunity. To that, I would love to have more players in the Academy that can help [with results].

“In the last game against Huddersfield, two brothers played some minutes with us.

“It’s a really good competition for that.”

One figure who has helped continue to provide a strong connection to the Academy is Kolo Toure.

Last season, the former Blue joined the Under-18s coaching staff, working alongside Lead Coach Oliver Reiss as the duo led City’s youngsters to the Under-18 Premier League North title and FA Youth Cup final.

Toure’s passion and knowledge of the Club’s up-and-coming talent has not gone unnoticed by Pep and is one of the reasons the coach has been brought into the first-team set-up.

It means other prospects, such as Ryan McAidoo – who was on the bench in City’s Premier League win against Burnley – are also on the boss’ radar.

“Yeah, he’s [McAidoo] on the radar, absolutely,” said Guardiola.

“We talk [with] Kolo Toure. I show personally, but [also] publicly, our condolences for his family because his father passed away last week.

“And he [Kolo Toure] is in his country to make the funeral.

“Kolo is completely in touch with the Academy, not just the second team [EDS] but all the teams.”