Faith in the future – that’s the guiding mantra for Elite Development Squad Lead Coach Ben Wilkinson and his players as the City youngsters prepare to embark on the 2025/26 PL2 season.
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Watch our EDS's opening 2025/26 PL2 fixture away at Chelsea live on CITY+](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/chelsea-v-eds-live-on-cityplus-63890687)
Wilkinson’s squad launch an eagerly awaited new campaign on Monday night away at Chelsea in a game that will be screened live on CITY+ (19.00 UK).
It’s a mouth-watering prospect and one that comes on the back of a hugely successful preceding term that saw our Under-21s claim both the PL2 league phase and subsequent play-off section.
It made it four PL2 titles in five seasons for City – but rather than point to the past by way of motivation, for Wilkinson the key is about looking forwards and seeing what can be achieved.
“Every time a new season rolls round you don’t want to look back too much,” said the Lead Coach.
“Obviously some of the group were here last year but you have to reframe it for the guys that have come up [from the Under-18s].
“The players who have come up don’t want to hear about last season too much, and each season bring a new opportunity.
“Now it’s about focusing on this season and seeing what the boys can achieve,
“Pre-season has been really good and been quite unique in that we haven’t affected too much from first team movements because of the Club World Cup and then the senior squad coming back later in July.
“We have played a lot of football and done a lot of work so from a preparation point of view we are probably much better prepared than this stage last season.
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“But obviously it’s new group so they will need time to gel and get together and understand what we are asking of them.
“Chelsea away first up is a really difficult game. They are a top team with a lot of good players, very good coach and a great history of being successful at this level so it will be a really tough game.
“But if you look back last season and our first game at Liverpool we lost and then we won the next 10 matches.
“You always want to start well for sure and get that feeling of positivity but certainly it won’t define the season.”
Play the video to watch Wilkinson’s interview in full…