Squad rotation is key in the last run of games, says Reiss | OneFootball

Under 18s head coach Oliver Reiss says switching up the starting XI as City head into the tail-end of the 2024/25 season will be significant.

The German made four changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's latest Under-18 Premier League North clash in the Potteries.

A first-half goal from Floyd Samba pulled City level after Stoke had gone ahead in the seventh minute.

Matty Warhurst then added a last-gasp winner to secure a 2-1 triumph, extending City’s winning run to 16 successive games with the young Blues remaining unbeaten in 2025.

After two hard fought league games as City narrowly beat Sunderland 2-0 last month and secured another 2-0 win over a tricky Wolves side, it was hugely important win that kept us two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table

And for Reiss, it again emphasised how every member of the squad will have a part to play.

“We need all the options for the last games for the big games; maybe for the games who can decide at the end if we can keep going in terms of winning titles,” began Reiss.

“It was very important today to rotate it a little bit more with I think four or five positions at the same time, but we could see we have more than just ten good players in the squad.

“I’m happy to have them today on the pitch and to see what they’re able to do.”

Match report | Stoke 1-2 City U18s

With the March international break kicking in now before our next fixture at Blackburn on March 29, Reiss said that City could take confidence from a hard-fought victory, even if it wasn’t in the manner we had become accustomed to.

“We should learn from the first half and it’s not about being motivated, it’s more about to realise what we have to do to get in our best shape,” added Reiss.

“When it’s a victory like this it feels like a bigger win, it means more.

“Tough games like this, we can learn more from this game sometimes than from other games where we scored a little bit earlier and it looks earlier like we will win this game.”