Manchester City could have hosted Manchester United Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup Final at the Etihad but have chose not to
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Jaden Heskey of Manchester City shoots and misses during the FA Youth Cup Final match between Manchester City and Leeds United at Etihad Stadium on May 10, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
Manchester City held the 2024 FA Youth Cup at the Etihad
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Manchester City are prioritising the North Stand at the Etihad over the FA Youth Cup Final this month. The Blues need to pass a number of test events in the next few weeks in order to open the new section of the stand in time for the final game of the season.
City have announced plans to have more than 7,000 extra seats available for the Premier League match with Aston Villa on May 24. The title could still be on the line that day, while there will be at least two significant farewells with Bernardo Silva and John Stones having announced they will end their long stays at the club.
The deadline is tight though and it has been felt at City that they cannot afford to lose time from those preparations in order to host the FA Youth Cup final. The schedule hasn’t helped - next week would have been free if the Premier League hadn’t insisted on the first team match with Palace being played on the Wednesday - and City would also argue that stadium redevelopment is an exceptional circumstance; the last time they hosted the FA Youth Cup Final in 2024 it was played at the Etihad.
Ultimately though, it is an operational decision from City and an unpopular one that will disappoint players and fans from both sides who were hoping to celebrate a showpiece event in the calendar. The FA Youth Cup final remains one of the biggest matches in youth football and previous finals have seen large attendances.
United would have preferred to switch the game to Old Trafford but City did not want to lose the home advantage they have been given. And while holding the game at the Joie Stadium will rob a group of City and United youngsters from what could be one of the biggest occasions and crowds of their careers, a crowd of around 7,000 will still be significantly more than they normally play in front of.
It isn’t a situation that anybody will want, but City are essentially prioritising their first team over the Under-18s.