Class of 92 motivation and Heskey advice - Inside Man City's historic Youth Cup final win

At full-time, it was clear to see why Manchester City were clear favourites to win the FA Youth Cup this season. They had dispatched Leeds 4-0 with a clinical second half display to become just the fourth Blues side to lift the prestigious trophy.

But for an academy used to winning, the silverware had dried up somewhat this season. The under-21 and under-18 titles that had been held for three years were gone, and the youth team had lost to Manchester United in the league cup final last month. The Youth Cup was the last chance of a trophy this season, so the academy coaches wanted to do something special to motivate the players.

After some thought, City staff compiled a video to show the squad what the Youth Cup was all about - its history, the past City teams who have won it, and the world-class players of other clubs who began their careers by lifting the same trophy they were so close to.

ALSO READ: Man City vs Leeds player ratings and highlights from FA Youth Cup final

ALSO READ: Heskey gets Haaland treatment as Man City kids prove Pep Guardiola wrong to win FA Youth Cup

"For me personally it really motivated us to go out there and win the game and win it comfortably as well," reflected defender Kian Noble, architect of the second goal in the final and assister of the third. "I came out of that meeting proper pumped for it," said goalscorer Jaden Heskey. "It kind of touched my heart," reflected captain Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

"It showed the Class of ’92, the old City teams in the 80s that won it and all the players and where they’ve gone on to," Heskey continued. "Some players [who have played in the Youth Cup] are in the Champions League now like [Jadon] Sancho, [Felix] Nmecha, Brahim Diaz, all them. That was good