'Super strength' - How Man City can win the academy battle with Manchester United

Manchester City and Man United are locked in a battle for league and FA Youth Cup glory this season and could meet in the final of the latter.

When Manchester City won their first Premier League title in such dramatic circumstances in 2012, the scenes were unforgettable, etched into the memories of plenty.

Away from the Etihad excitement, disbelief, tears and joy, Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United's players were stood on the pitch at Sunderland, scarcely able to believe what they had seen.

No Blue was bothered about that in the minutes and hours after Sergio Aguero slammed home that stunning winner, but looking at the images from the Stadium of Light in the aftermath of the day will certainly have raised a smile or two.

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The noisy neighbours had landed, and they've barely moved since. United have lurched from crisis to crisis as City have become the Manchester flagbearers.

That success has cascaded down to academy level. City have been to seven of the last 11 FA Youth Cup finals - albeit only winning two - while United have reached the showpiece just once in that time, as they beat Nottingham Forest to lift the cup in 2022.

This season the Manchester rivals could meet in the final for the first time in 40 years in what would be a glamour showdown. Both have to win their semi-finals first, with City in action tonight against Blackburn Rovers at the Joie Stadium.

Rovers will not be under-estimated, but City are heavy favourites to progress. And Under-18 boss Oli Reiss is relishing the pressure of a big crowd and the chance to reach a third straight final, believing it will stand the young players in good stead for their careers ahead.

"It (the Youth Cup) is very important," Reiss told the Manchester Evening News. "The games are always special, the crowd is different, different stadium, we are happy that we are again at home.

"It is important to win but more to have these kind of games. It is a different pressure for the players and for their development games like this are the best way to improve in specific areas."

Therein lies the balance for City at academy level, to ensure youngsters are ready for what comes next while at the same time being good enough to win.

For Floyd Samba, one of the standout performers for the young Blues this season, the Youth Cup is a big target.

"We have been very consistent in this cup, we are just looking to build with better performances and carry on and make it to the final. Every year we are looking to win it. Especially after losing in the final last year (when City lost to Aston Villa)," he said.

City are also well placed in the Under-18 Premier League. The Blues are top of the table where they again face a colossal battle with United over the closing weeks of the season. Reiss' side top the table on goal difference but have a game in hand. Make no mistake, City want to come out on top in the battle of Manchester, but the bigger picture matters too.

"It would be a big achievement for us," said Reiss. "But we always try to do both at the same time - we want to develop players and bring players to hopefully our first team, but we also want to be successful.

"If we win the title or not it makes no difference for the players in the end. But to try and achieve this is a big part of developing the players. We have tried to find the balance between developing players and being successful."

The success this year has been built on a strong team ethic, a renewed sense of camaraderie in the group which is showing on the pitch.

"I think this season what makes us really strong is that I have a feeling that they are really enjoying playing together, they are mates on the pitch, a bit more maybe compared to last season," added Reiss. "This can be maybe the super strength at the end, we will see."