Even when Manchester City’s star players aren’t away on international duty, the grind never stops.
This summer, Ilkay Gundogan hung up his international boots after captaining Germany in their home European Championship. Following that, he made a stunning return to Manchester City. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker played every game as England reached their second consecutive European Championship final. However, his late return to City meant he clocked just a single minute of action and wasn’t included in Gareth Southgate’s first England squad of the season.
Both players might have expected a well-earned rest before facing the challenges of the new season, but instead, they chose to stay sharp by training with City’s Elite Development Squad (EDS), keeping their fitness in peak condition ahead of their first-team teammates’ return.
While it’s common for Pep Guardiola to draft in under-21 players to bolster the senior squad in training, such as Nico O’Reilly, who has now permanently joined the first-team setup, it’s rare to see senior players stepping down to train with the academy. Gundogan, however, is no stranger to working with the younger groups as he’s started working toward his coaching badges.
This past week, with the majority of the club’s players—senior and academy alike—on international duty, both Gundogan and Walker trained with the academy, leaving a lasting impact on the new EDS head coach, Ben Wilkinson, and his squad.
“We’ve had one or two first-team players training with us over the break, with 400-500 Premier League appearances and a trophy cabinet full of everything. Yet here they are, training with 17, 18, 19-year-olds, and their attitude is outstanding,” Wilkinson told MEN Sport. “That’s what sets them apart.”
Wilkinson was full of praise for both players, noting, “Kyle and Gundo have been at the top and remain there. Their mentality, their professionalism—it was exceptional to see.”
The younger players were given a unique opportunity to witness what it takes to reach the highest level. “The academy lads get a taste when they train with the first team, but it’s different when it’s the senior players coming to them. The competitiveness, the desire to win, the standards—they see it up close. It’s one thing for us to tell them, but it’s another to see these elite players live it out in every session. It sends a much stronger message,” Wilkinson added.
The EDS coach also highlighted that the primary gap between academy players and the first team isn’t always technical ability but mindset.
“A lot of our boys are technically and tactically strong,” Wilkinson said. “But the mentality of those in the first team is next-level. They’re the best in the world—every game, every session, every behavior is top class. That can be a wake-up call for some.”
Wilkinson emphasized that making the leap from under-21s to the first team requires more than just skill: “The gap between the U21s and City’s first team is still significant, largely due to mindset. Competing with the best in the world means you need to be just as good, if not better, in every facet.”
In today’s football landscape, it can be tough for young players to keep the right focus. “At 16, 17, 18 years old, being at a top club like City comes with incredible perks. That can challenge their mindset,” Wilkinson explained.
Manchester City’s academy has had a strong start to the season, with two wins from three games and a draw against League Two side Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy. Up next, they face Inter Milan in the UEFA Youth League before gearing up for a Manchester derby next weekend.
