Aston Villa stand between Youth and NexGen triumph

With April Fools now behind us (we promise) the focus shifts to the FA Cup game against Manchester United with a place at Wembley at stake.

There is however another huge game involving Chelsea FC today with the u19’s taking on Aston Villa in the Final of the Next Generation Series.

This competition has seen the top 24 youth teams in Europe pitted against each other with Chelsea overcoming Juventus, Barcelona and Arsenal to reach the finals.

Whatever the result we have seen some great talent in the ranks but it would be great to see star performers such as Lewis Baker and Ruben Loftus Cheek lift some silverware in Italy tonight.

The last match was a thriller with Arsenal that saw 7 goals with Chelsea stealing the game in extra time thanks to some magic from substitute John Swift, let’s hope we see the same tonight.

Our opponents in the Final are Aston Villa who may be struggling in the Premier League but their youth team has consistently produced talent over the years and not to be taken lightly.

Aston Villa boast one of the best set ups in the country and under Paul Lambert the latest graduates are already pitched at the heart of a Premier League relegation battle.

We face the next generation on the production line in what I am hoping will be a cracking match.

Whilst silverware is not the most important part of youth football it would be great for the lads to win it and give us something to smile whatever happens at the Bridge today.

Therefore to end April Fools I would like to wish our Youth team the best of luck tonight and should you want to watch the final is being shown on EuroSport.