Wilkinson full of praise for substitutes in cup semi-final win | OneFootball

Ben Wilkinson pointed out how important his substitutes were in City’s 3-1 win over Leicester in our Under-18 Premier League Cup semi-final.

Matty Warhurst and Ashton Muir, who both took to the pitch alongside Michael Okeke in the 60th minute, scored a goal each in extra time to see City advance to the finals.

Warhurst’s hard work and pressing of the Leicester goalkeeper shortly after coming on also teed up Jaden Heskey who drew City level to take the game into an extra 30 minutes.

“Absolutely massive and I think it's a really important part of the players' development,” said Wilkinson when asked how much of a role the substitutes bench played on Saturday afternoon.

“We just spoke about it in the dressing room that players will always be disappointed when they don't start the game.

“But the way the game is in this era is that the players who come on and finish the game are just as important as the ones that start and they need to overcome that disappointment and have the right mentality when they come on the pitch.

“And I thought the players who came on gave us something that we lacked in the game which is obviously what you want when you make a substitution and sometimes you don't always get it.

“I'm really pleased about that. If we're going to be successful everyone needs to contribute and also in this day and age players need to get used to the fact they're not going to play every game and when they don't they still need to be ready.”

The final will also prove to be a tricky game with a full squad likely to be utilised when we take on Manchester United in the competition’s showpiece event.

And Wilkinson is looking forward to the occasion as City Under-18s look to secure our first piece of silverware of the 2023/24 season.

“It will be a great experience and a great final,” said Wilkinson.

“This is what you want in these games, two top teams with the opportunity to win a trophy at the end of it.

“Of course the players will be desperate to win and I think within the team and the squad we have good experience of these games and it will be a great occasion.”