Manchester City academy chief Jim Cassell says there's some great English talent coming through the system around the country.

"I think we have a very good chance of winning the Under 21 European Championship next summer, and that says everything," explained Cassell to the Daily Mail.

"Those players have come through the system and we should be proud of them.

"Arsenal have some great players and are rightly getting positive publicity. I'm not envious of that in the slightest as we have had plenty of nice things said about us.

"But there are good players at all levels. Look at what the academy at Crewe has produced. Look at West Ham, at Middlesbrough.

"We are too keen to knock the system in this country just because we haven't won a major tournament at senior level. This system works."

For all his natural enthusiasm and optimism, Cassell is a realist. He knows things in English football are not perfect.

"We don't have a problem producing young players who are talented but we do have a problem producing players who want to stay at the top," he added.

"Look what happened to the England rugby team after they won the World Cup. Look what happened to the cricket team after they won the Ashes.

"Our approach seems to be about winning something once. What the academies are trying to do is produce players with the mentality to be winners for years and years."