Hassan Sulaiman and his players have shown different qualities in the Youth Cup this season. The young Blues started with a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Leicester City, which was sealed by a stunning 87th-minute strike from Kobe Barbour.

Next came a dominant 7-1 win over non-league club Merstham at Kingsmeadow. Five different players were on the scoresheet that night at Kingsmeadow, and the victory included a hat-trick from striker Shumaira Mheuka.

Confidence within the squad is high heading into Wednesday's game, especially after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday.

And having won four of our five matches in all competitions in 2025, the Blues are eager to build on that momentum and secure a place in the quarter-finals of academy football's most prestigious competition.

'We’re feeling very confident ahead of the Manchester United game,' explains Sulaiman. 'The boys have done incredibly well to reach this stage and we’ve spoken about their journey throughout the season. They deserve to be here, so of course, I’m looking forward to a big game.

'We’ve played two very different games in the competition so far. The Leicester match was tough. We found ourselves 2-0 down and had to show intensity, grit, and resilience to turn it around. The boys displayed incredible strength of character to get back into the game and secure the win.

'The Merstham match posed a different kind of challenge. On paper, we were expected to win comfortably and we did. However, they brought a thousand passionate fans who made a lot of noise and tried to throw us off. That created a psychological challenge, as the boys had to remain composed despite the pressure. We handled it well and came away with a big win.

'The Leicester game tested our ability to control a match against a strong opponent while the Merstham game tested us mentally. Both have played a big part in shaping this team and we can take those lessons into the next round.'

Our Under-18s squad has been particularly young this season, with most in the group experiencing their first full campaign at this level. Several schoolboys have also risen to the challenge when called upon, most impressively in the Blues' win over Leicester on Saturday in which 13 schoolboys featured in the match-day squad.

Several players have also earned opportunities with Filipe Coelho's Under-21s squad, including Landon Emenalo and Gensis Antwi, who both started in the Premier League 2 against Leeds United on Friday. With experience gained at both ends of the age spectrum, our Under-18s head coach has highlighted the positive impact that can have on player development.

'Having schoolboys step up is exactly what we stand for in youth development,' Sulaiman says. 'This competition provides all the ingredients needed for them to thrive in the coming years.

'Given the games they have played, they should be hitting the ground running by the time they’re second years. They’ve faced adversity and competed against older, stronger and more tactically aware players. They’ve had to fight, struggle, and sometimes suffer. That’s exactly what you want in youth development as these experiences will help them progress.

'Some of our players have also had the opportunity to step up and contribute with the Under-21s which will benefit them when they return for Wednesday’s game. Under-21s football is faster, more physical and more intense.

'They’re competing against players who might be three, four, or even five years older. They've had to learn the finer details of managing a game – protecting a lead, handling physical challenges and navigating difficult situations. These experiences will make them even more prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.'

Our next opponents, Manchester United, have been in strong form this season. They have defeated Coventry City and Preston North End to reach this stage of the FA Youth Cup and are second in the northern section of the Under-18 Premier League after winning 11 of their 13 matches.

'They are a tough side, but we’re feeling confident going into this game,' adds Sulaiman. 'We can take a lot of confidence from our performances in the FA Youth Cup so far, where both games presented different challenges, and we overcame them.

'It’s Chelsea against Manchester United – what more could you want? I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the coaching staff and players to compete in a high-level game in a prestigious competition. I expect a strong crowd and these are the moments we live for. It’s going to be a great test for our boys and a memorable occasion.

'We want to win, that’s always the goal, but beyond that development is at the heart of everything we do. We’ve been such a young side all season and, at times, we’ve come out on top. Even when we win it’s about sustaining those moments and managing the game effectively, something we haven’t always done consistently.

'For this game, I want us to bring everything together. We need a strong performance, with our style of play evident throughout. We need to defend well, win tackles and dominate second balls. Ideally, we’ll achieve all of that and, of course, secure the win.'

Get behind the boys

Supporters worldwide can watch our FA Youth Cup fixture against Manchester United live for free on Wednesday evening, with kick-off at 7pm at Leigh Sports Village. Simply click on the Manchester United vs Chelsea Under-18s Match Centre below, or visit the homepage on the official Chelsea website and app shortly before kick-off.