“A good sign” – Pep Guardiola calls for calm around Manchester City Academy development | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has put the club’s Academy development into perspective following excitement around the 0-2 win at Huddersfield last week.

That result saw a vast array of City Academy graduates or current youngsters involved in the first-team squad, with the likes of Divine Mukasa, Reigan Heskey, and Jaden Heskey joining more established figures such as Phil Foden on the pitch. For many, the sight was an encouraging nod towards the future, particularly given the strength of competition for places.

The moment also carried echoes of Manchester City’s broader strategy in recent seasons, with players like Oscar Bobb and Nico O’Reilly establishing themselves as consistent first-team appearance makers, while others are building reputations on loan elsewhere.

The balance between developing talent in-house and ensuring opportunities for progress has been a recurring theme across Pep Guardiola’s reign. Yet, despite the enthusiasm surrounding the Huddersfield tie, the Catalan coach has urged calm.

Guardiola has since stressed that one Carabao Cup outing is not the same as consistently producing Academy talent capable of driving Manchester City towards Premier League and UEFA Champions League success.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Guardiola was asked whether Manchester City’s Academy was now at a level where as many as eight players could play in the first-team squad, as was the case at Huddersfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

“Listen, in Barcelona, we played the first Champions League final against Man United with seven players [from the] Academy – that is the stamp for the job of the Academy. To play one game in the Carabao Cup [against Huddersfield] is a good sign,” Guardiola insisted.

“But for me, players in the Academy are James Trafford, who has come back after being built here and of course in other clubs, in Burnley. And Phil [Foden] and Rico [Lewis] and Nico [O’Reilly]. That is the other ones.

“OK, Divine [Mukasa] has huge potential, but we will see in the future when [he’s] playing season after season. That is a player from the Academy. But imagine the amount of players who unfortunately left. They were top, top class players, above, and could not have the space [in the team].

“It would be, my god, a starting 11 [player] right now in the first team, because if you start to count the incredible players in other clubs that was being educated and played here in Man City, in the Academy. But it’s a good sign that still we have loan players playing a lot.

“Look at Max Alleyne in Watford, playing really good. And many of them, some here that have a potential to help us and see what happens. That’s why you have the Academy.”

Guardiola was further quizzed on whether the longer-term aim of Manchester City is to replicate the level of productivity seen at Barcelona through their La Masia Academy system, to which he said, “At the end, we have top, top class players that are not here.

“And everybody knows it is because it was a position [that had] top, top figure players to win the Trebles and Quadruple. If it would not have happened, in that moment, in that level, then may be [have the] capability to make a step up, these players would be here. For sure.”

Looking ahead, much may depend on how emerging talents adapt to opportunities across the season. Divine Mukasa, at just 18, has already been highlighted for his remarkable productivity at youth level, while O’Reilly has been steadily integrated into Guardiola’s senior squad.

Others currently out on loan like Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis could yet benefit from their ongoing experiences to accelerate progress, with Manchester City’s broader network of clubs – including Girona – offering a natural pathway back to the Etihad Stadium.

What is clear is that Pep Guardiola values the Academy as much for the players who succeed elsewhere as those who make the grade at the Etihad. With the club continuing to battle on multiple fronts, opportunities for youngsters will remain limited, but the tie at Huddersfield was proof that the door remains open.

Manchester City fans may not yet see a La Masia-style breakthrough overnight, but Pep Guardiola’s words suggest the City Football Academy’s role in shaping the future remains firmly embedded in the club’s vision.