---
source: thedugout.football
generated: 2026-08-26T06:11:55.819Z
last_updated: 2026-08-26T05:00:00+00:00
data_provider: API-Football
canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/manchester-city/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFuY2hlc3RlcmV2ZW5pbmduZXdzLmNvLnVrL3Nwb3J0L2Zvb3RiYWxsL2Zvb3RiYWxsLW5ld3Mvb2xpLXJlaXNzLWludGVydmlldy1tYW4tY2l0eS0zNDUxNTIwOA
---

# Oli Reiss interview: U21s being 'selfish', McAidoo, two essentials

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 26 Aug
- **Club:** Manchester City
- **Original URL:** https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/oli-reiss-interview-man-city-34515208

Oli Reiss could hardly have been happier as he stood on the Manchester City bus heading through the city centre for Pep Guardiola's big farewell. The Under-18s boss had won a final at the third time of asking, beating United to win the FA Youth Cup, and now had a front row seat to see one of the greatest managers of all time get an almighty send-off from thousands of adoring fans.

"Seeing him on the bus, being emotional between standing there alone, thinking by himself, enjoying every emotion," Reiss recalls. "It was something special. And then we came into the Co-Op and I was expecting something but honestly it was like a concert. I couldn't believe what was happening, it was just crazy.

"For the players, what an experience. The way they celebrated. I was not really able to have a proper interview because at my back they were celebrating the trophy with the crowd. I wanted to turn and say 'Teddie (Lamb) please calm down I have an interview,' but they were excited."

Get all the best Man City news, updates and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the MEN!

To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

There is an irony in City's young players getting such an unbelievable experience in the same month there was hysteria at the opportunities denied to them with the FA Youth Cup final being played at the Joie Stadium rather than the Etihad or Old Trafford, but the most important message in the academy is always what comes next. After two years impressing with the Under-18s, what would come next for Reiss?

A 'completely different role', it turns out - even if it doesn't appear that way. City wanted Reiss to move up from the Under-18s to the Under-21s after the departure of Ben Wilkinson from the older age group.

And the German did not waste one second in saying yes to the opportunity, even if he has already found it to be far less about tactics and more about logistics and feelings. Players want to be closer to first team football and being closer to Enzo Maresca's squad means more working to whatever they need at the expense of building a team.

"It's a completely different role," Reiss told the Manchester Evening News. "It is just after four weeks so maybe different answers in three months, but so far it is much more about communication. That is always important but here you have players moving between teams, from the 18s to us and back for games maybe, then players going to the first team sometimes because of first team training. Not being part of our sessions or having to combine.

"It is a lot more of managing and having good conversations with everyone around you - first team, 18s and the players - and at this stage every player is not Under-14 any more where you just enjoy to play with the team. In this age, they are already more like what is my pathway? What is my next step? Should I not be there already?

"We want to create a team and team spirit but it starts already to be more selfish - in a good way. To deal with these things is another part of being a coach, compared to being Under-18s coach. It starts at Under-18s but here there is a lot more of this so other skills are more important being the Under-21 coach.

"A lot of day by day work too. A lot of games because of the competitions so how many real proper sessions do we have in the next four months? I don't think so many. A few of them are maybe with the first team and losing them but giving them to the first team, to put everything together - the amount of games, the number of sessions - it's a different approach. In the U18s I was able to plan a whole week and I was 99 per cent clear we will do this exactly as we planned it. Now we have to be adaptable nearly every day."

That disruption started in pre-season when 16 of City's best young talent went with Maresca and the first team squad on a two-week tour of Asia. The manager has promoted Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba to be with the senior players and when they drop down for minutes in the Under-21s their needs will be a priority.

Reiss is already used to this from his time as Under-18s boss but something does change from one age group to the next as it does go from more of a team feeling to individuals. With many youngsters heading out on loan, those that stay need to feel like they are still moving forward and not being left behind.

As much as many of them are pushing to be included in the first team though, those dropping down must be accommodated. Maresca has indicated that he will not be shy to turn to academy players - his CV shows he has done so elsewhere - but a balance needs to be met to ensure that

"This is a big challenge and a big responsibility for every one of us," said Reiss. "It is what we want to have as many as possible around the first team or in the first team sessions and squads. But this is just one thing. The result of this would be they are not playing for weeks, where is the benefit?

"There is still a benefit of being around the first team but we have to take care of them in terms of what do they need for the challenges, the loads, the minutes. This is a week by week, day by day conversation with the first team to find the best solution for the players.

"Hopefully there are more players around the first team but that's why as a coach you want clear preparation with your team and playing on Saturday or Monday and analysing everything for the next game, but in the end we want to develop individual players because it is not possible to bring the whole [Elite Development Squad] into the first team.

"We are developing players, so when we have Ryan McAidoo with his quality we are happy when he is around the first team and coming back for our games his quality will always make us better for games."

McAidoo hasn't been needed for the opening two matches but the young Blues have won two games and scored eight goals in defeating Mansfield in the EFL Trophy and then Wolves in the Premier League 2. Xavier Parker, the 16-year-old who City worked so hard to keep this summer amid fierce competition from Liverpool, has three goals already and both Floyd Samba and brother Tyrone were on the scoresheet against Wolves.

Once again, the UEFA Youth League will be seen as the key competition for City to test themselves against European elite. The club have only made it as far as the semi-finals once and that was all the way back in 2018, so there is a clear target in front of Reiss.

While he knows he will be judged on results, the coach had his own set of values for the players being developed by him and his staff. As long as they buy in to what he needs from them, they shouldn't need to worry so much about their futures.

"There are two things for me - off and on the pitch. Off the pitch, we try to be strong in terms of the standards of behaviour. This is so important wherever you go, it's the first impression of you as a person," he said.

"The rules we have, the values we have are very important for us at the moment and we try to increase the importance compared to other seasons. We want to get better at this and this is what I expect from the players, to have this discipline and ownership to say that this is what they want from me and I know this is important.

"I expect them to be really good at this, then on the pitch we are talking about key behaviours and principles. They are not rocket science but key behaviours in terms of the intensity and the willingness and awareness on the pitch. We always have this 50/50 approach in terms of what we expect from them as a player is willingness and awareness.

"If the reason for mistake or a wrong decision is because of a lack of willingness or awareness, we have a problem. When it is knowledge or ability, it is up to us to make them better but you have to show that you have the willingness and awareness to give everything. This is what we expect, along with the intensity to go to the limit in every session and every game. Give us this and you can have everything from us."