The friends who came together on the football pitch and raised the bar at Man City

As Manchester City’s Under-18 players wheeled away celebrating a second successive title, manager Oli Reiss stood smiling. He wanted the youngsters to enjoy the moment. It didn’t stop his players spraying him with water but the affable Reiss had no complaints. This was their time.

The German coach is proud of what his squad has achieved but perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the class of 2026 is the camaraderie. The youngsters are friends first and footballers second.

That formula is not easy to cultivate but City have managed it. Their…