Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says a stronger reserves competition would help retain and develop young players.

City have been questioned over their decisions to allow youth prospects to leave Etihad Stadium.

The club are standing by their record but Guardiola said managers needed to have "more courage" in their younger players, calling for a second league to be created in order to create a pathway for younger players to break into Premier League clubs' first teams.

"Create a good second league and you will see how many players make it to the Premier League," he said.

"Perhaps then managers in the Premier League will have more courage to play them."