Elite Development Squad Lead Coach Oliver Reiss says his City youngsters are eager to embrace the 'ultimate' challenge of this season’s UEFA Youth League.

City’s Under-19s kick-off our 2026/27 Youth League campaign with an exciting trip to tackle FC Porto in Portugal on Tuesday for a game that will be screened live on CITY+ (12.00 UK).

For Reiss, who stepped up to take charge of City’s EDS cohort in the summer after two hugely successful seasons in charge of our Under-18s, it marks another mouth-watering new challenge.

It’s the first of six league phase games for the City youngsters with matches against the Under-19s of Paris Saint-Germain (home), RB Leipzig (away), AEK Athens (home), Napoli (home) and Barcelona (away) also to come across the rest of 2026.

And in terms of those tests – and the way they both challenge and develop young players – Reiss said the Youth League remained as the ultimate barometer in terms of the demands it places on emerging youngsters.

“It’s like the highest level you can get into in terms of the competition, and in terms of playing games against opponents who are definitely on the highest level,” Reiss said.

“Every competition is different, of course, in terms of the opponents we have, but especially in this one, as this one feels like the Champions League.

“First of all, we are playing against the best teams in Europe.

“And international games always give you something a little bit different [in terms of the challenge], because the culture somewhere else is different.

“It’s a different language you’re playing against, so it feels different.

“And also, there are the expectations as there are a lot of people watching these things more on the TV.

“There are so many areas which are different in these games.

“That’s why it’s a top opportunity to develop the players in the best possible way.

“So everyone is excited and really looking forward to playing these games.

“Of course, a home game first would have been nice but going first to Portugal, what it gives you already is the feeling of the international [nature of the] competition.

“So, Porto away is a top first game for us.”

In terms of the specifics and what he felt would constitute success in the Youth League this term, Reiss laid out the platform of his aims and ambitions for the squad.

Both from a development and achievement objective.

“We are Manchester City and, of course, we try to achieve the best, [and to seek] what is possible in the best way,” Reiss added.

“The aim is to develop the players in the best possible way is the competition together with all the challenges and demands I already mentioned.

“That’s what we need, and we have at least these six games and we want more for the players to develop.

“Coming through the first stage obviously is the first goal and then we will see.”