Manchester City academy chief Jim Cassell admits he's desperate to see his team win the FA Youth Cup final tonight against Chelsea.

Cassell told City's website: "I've made no bones about winning this trophy right from the very start. The production of players is the number one priority here, but the 'blue riband' of youth football is, without a doubt, the FA Youth Cup.

"We've been near to lifting it before without quite making it, so while desperate is not quite the right word, we'd love to win the Youth Cup this season.

"It's over 10 years since the Academy was formed, and we made it a target to win the Youth Cup. The players are younger than the staff here and will have many more chances to win things in their careers, but for some of us the days are starting to get a bit longer."

City's last Youth Cup triumph came in 1986 with a side containing the likes of Paul Lake, Andy Hinchcliffe, David White and David Brightwell, and after coming close two years ago Jim and his staff at Platt Lane want to match that achievement.

"It's well documented how successful the youth policy was here back in those days, we've tried to rekindle it and I think we have got it going back in the right direction again.

"Winning the Youth Cup would be a definite measure about how far we have progressed.

"Right back from when we started, first Joe Royle and then Kevin Keegan were always keen to give the lads a chance of they were good enough. Stuart Pearce and now Sven have carried that forward, every time I see him I tell him that there are more players heading towards his team!"