A wonderful goal from Dire Mebude completed a first-half turnaround for Manchester City on Thursday to add another trophy to the academy's growing reputation as the best youth system in the country.
City's talented under-18s had already won their regional division by a distance but had one final obstacle to be named national champions against Southern division winners Southampton. With City's first team facing a final of their own on Sunday to seal another Premier League title, Pep Guardiola's squad would do worse than watch the youth side's mature performance in this final to secure the title after falling behind.
The Blues have now retained the title they have won for the last two seasons, and have lifted a national trophy at all youth levels from under-16 to under-23. The top two youth age groups have both won their national titles for two years in a row, and the first team will complete an incredible 'double-treble' of Premier League titles if they can add a third back-to-back success at the weekend. If this win at Southampton is anything to go by, City's academy will be in the hunt for more titles next year too, brushing aside a strong Saints side with relative ease in the end.
