'Everything is against us' - why Man City coaches are relishing their difficult path to Youth League glory

Normally in the competitive world of football, an easy run in a cup competition would be welcomed with open arms. There are countless examples of luck going against every team in the world, so a favourable cup run is never to be sniffed at.

In the Manchester City academy, though, the coaching staff tasked with shaping the next generation of Blues insist on giving their players the toughest tasks possible - and welcome unfavourable cup draws if it gives those players new challenges to overcome.

Take the UEFA Youth League, for example, where City resume their European campaign this week away to Hajduk Split. After overcoming Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen in the group stage, a testing draw away in Croatia has been welcomed within the academy.

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"The dynamic of it is fascinating," says Elite Development Squad head coach Brian Barry-Murphy in a chat with MEN Sport.

"It's really exciting. The randomness of the draw means we've topped the group and performed really well but now go away to an opponent who progressed to the last stages playing in a very convincing manner. They'll no doubt be very confident on their own patch. Everything is in their favour in essence and against us.

"For us that provides a supreme test of our best young talent, and that's what we want. We get the chance to play in this Champions League as a result of what our first team do, they qualify so we play with a free pass. We don't have to qualify. It's a unique privilege and one we have to really make sure the players are clear on - that it's an amazing experience and we have to make the most of it."

With the Youth League split into two