Txiki Begiristain has been back at Manchester City this week, following Pep Guardiola's return to the club. The former sporting director watched the Under-21s' Premier League 2 clash with Stoke City on Friday night, having earlier attended the UEFA Youth League match against AEK Athens.
Begiristain's Return
Begiristain, who left his role as sporting director last summer, was spotted at the City Football Academy watching the youth teams. He sat next to his replacement, Hugo Viana, during Tuesday's UEFA Youth League game, with the pair in almost constant conversation throughout.
His return follows Guardiola's decision to be present for the Champions League defeat to PSG, the first home game since the club were found guilty of more than 100 charges by the Premier League. Begiristain also watched the first team's Premier League win over Ipswich last weekend.
Youth League Draw
City's Under-19s were held to a 1-1 draw by AEK Athens, having fallen behind inside the opening five minutes. Teddie Lamb levelled for the Blues, but they couldn't find a way past a stubborn Greek defence and had to settle for a point – their first of the competition after defeats to Porto and PSG in their opening two games.
Under-21 Comeback
City Under-21s staged an incredible fightback to stun Stoke City in Premier League 2 on Friday night. The Blues conceded three goals in 15 minutes at the start of the second half and looked to be staring a third league defeat in the face.
Xavier Parker pulled one back with a quarter of an hour to go, and substitute Teddie Lamb narrowed the deficit shortly after. Fellow sub Harrison Miles levelled in the closing seconds of the 90 minutes before Dexter Oliver curled in a stunning added-time winner.
Boss Oli Reiss was delighted with the result and the character, even if City's mad 15 minutes had left him perplexed.
"I was very happy with the first half, we can always say a little bit of detail here and there," said Reiss, speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the game. "The performance was good so keep going. But I've no idea what happened in those 15 minutes. Sitting on the bench it was what kind of movie is this? But we fought to the end."
"I had to fight a little bit with myself at 3-0 for what we can do? Just stay in the game because there was plenty of time and this team with the quality can score goals as we saw in the last 20 minutes."
The Blues now face a must-win game at Port Vale in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. Any other result and City, who lost to Chesterfield in their other group game, will be eliminated.
Academy Pride
As the players drifted off the Etihad pitch following the 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens on Tuesday night, three City stars were departing together, taking it all in. Floyd Samba, in his winter club coat having been replaced late on, was flanked by Ryan McAidoo and Kaden Braithwaite, who both came on in the final stages.
It was a proud moment for the players and the academy staff to see three graduates, all still teenagers and all playing academy football last season, feature in a European competition. Samba is the leading light, having been trusted by Enzo Maresca to lead the line in the absence of the rested Erling Haaland. Samba scored twice on his full debut in the Carabao Cup success over Norwich City last month and didn't look out of place on Europe's biggest stage.
This week's fixtures: Saturday: Under-18 Premier League: Derby vs City, 12noon. Tuesday: EFL Trophy: Port Vale vs City U21s, 7pm. Wednesday: Under-18 Premier League: City vs Southampton, 11am.
