New Man City youth partnership emerges to give Pep Guardiola what he wanted

Last week, when discussing the number of Manchester City players who have left the club this summer, Pep Guardiola said that not enough youngsters have the patience to stay and develop in the academy.

In the transfer window, four academy players left for Southampton in deals that could top £40m, while Darko Gyabi joined Leeds for £5m and the majority of last year's under-23 side left on loan or were released. Guardiola also acknowledged the lack of competitiveness in the Premier League 2 — a competition City have won for the past two years.

So it felt like a test for the new-look academy side in their UEFA Youth League opener, a competition the Blues have struggled in over recent years. If Guardiola and City were looking for more challenges for their youngsters, this was it.

ALSO READ: How Man City should line up vs Sevilla

Academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy said pre-match that the Youth League was a unique experience that gave City's players a chance to be tested with new in-game problems that English academy rivals won't pose.

He was right, as Sevilla's imposing team was physical at both ends of the pitch, but fast and skilful on the flanks. In particular, winger Carlos Alvarez — wearing No.10 and bearing a resemblance to Diego Maradona in looks and style of play — was the host's main outlet. City's response to his threat was often to bring him down.

And despite some half chances from Dire Mebude and Carlos Borges, Sevilla's opening goal came remarkably simplistically. Alvarez's corner was headed on to the back post, which was send back into the area and prodded home after goalkeeper Mikki van Sas got stranded. Their whole team and substitutes bench ran to celebrate in the corner, just 14 minutes in.

It looked as