Wilkinson hails Under-19s maturity in wake of Hoffenheim triumph | OneFootball

Lead coach Ben Wilkinson hailed the maturity of City’s Under-19s after seeing the Blues’ youngsters secure a priceless 2-1 UEFA Youth League Round of 16 triumph away at Hoffenheim.

Wilkinson’s young charges produced a magnificent all-round display in Germany with first half goals from Matty Warhurst and Reigan Heskey ultimately proving decisive and securing us a place in the Youth League quarter-finals for the first time since the 2017/18 season.

In front of a crowd of more than 3,000, City withstood all that Hoffenheim threw at us with goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff producing a series of outstanding saves, aided and abetted by a hugely impressive all-round defensive performance.

And for Wilkinson it was another priceless experience for his players and one which again illustrated their attitude, application and growing maturity.

“I was really pleased with the way we played,” Wilkinson reflected.

“We knew was going to be a real tough game and whatever happened, it was always going be decided on small margins, I think.

“I think we started the game well. And then the rest of the first half there were moments where we had real good control and then moments where we may be conceded chances a little too easily.

“But to be coming in at half time, 2-1 up was really pleasing.

“The first half in these away games in Europe I think are always really important. You can you lose the game in those moments.

“And I think the second-half I was really pleased that for such a young group I thought they showed for large parts of it, a real mature performance in terms of understanding the balance of keeping the ball and playing in the right areas.

“More than anything else, just how much they were willing to run and fight and win second balls and things like that.

“From a development point of view, it was a real stretch of a game and I thought the lads were a real credit to themselves in terms of their application and their attitude. So that's a real pleasing moment for us.”

City’s reward is a quarter-final trip to either Real Madrid or AZ Alkmaar in early April.

And regardless of who we play next, Wilkinson described our next European mission as a ‘mouth-watering prospect’ to savour.

“Yeah, we’re really excited. I think these last two games in the Youth League have been fantastic for us from a development point of view,” Wilkinson added.

“And now to get to go and play a quarter-final at Madrid or Alkmaar is a mouth-watering prospect knowing that you're getting closer to really achieving something.

“So yeah, I think the boys will have it in the back of their mind- they’ll be really excited for that game and given the effort they put in today I think they deserve it.

“We’re all really, really looking forward to that next challenge.”