Manchester City U23 manager Brian Barry-Murphy has revealed his players compared Friday night’s clash with Leeds United to facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. An unprecedented 21,321 Whites fans showed up to support Andrew Taylor’s U23 outfit - obliterating the Premier League 2 record in the process.
Astonishingly, the crowd was bigger than what Burnley, Brentford and Watford have averaged in the top flight this season. Despite suffering a 3-1 defeat, Leeds supporters rallied behind the young Whites prospects.
Victory for City was inspired by Cole Palmer - who has made 12 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s first team in 2021-12 - and secured the Premier League 2 title. Barry-Murphy, the head of the Elite Development Squad at Eastlands, thinks playing in front of a hostile Elland Road crowd was a fitting way to top off their campaign.
