Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

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Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

A difficult season in the U18 Premier League, but a positive one in terms of player development, were the thoughts confirmed by coach Adam Barradell.

2025-06-01T09:00+01:00

by Matthew Temple

Published

01 Jun, 2025

Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

A difficult season in the U18 Premier League, but a positive one in terms of player development, were the thoughts confirmed by coach Adam Barradell.

Matthew Temple

2025-06-01T09:00+01:00

Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

A difficult season in the U18 Premier League, but a positive one in terms of player development, were the thoughts confirmed by coach Adam Barradell.

Matthew Temple

2025-06-01T09:00+01:00

Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

A difficult season in the U18 Premier League, but a positive one in terms of player development, were the thoughts confirmed by coach Adam Barradell.

Matthew Temple

2025-06-01T09:00+01:00

Outstanding Opportunities For The Players, Says Barradell

A difficult season in the U18 Premier League, but a positive one in terms of player development, were the thoughts confirmed by coach Adam Barradell.

Matthew Temple

2025-06-01T09:00+01:00

Leicester City Under-18s finished 12th in the U18 Premier League
Adam Barradell identifies the defensive stability as a focal point in our pre-season preparation
The coach also explained what the staff look for in a player’s development with so many knocking on the door for First Team football

It’s been a testing season on the pitch for our young Foxes, who finished one place above the bottom, with 23 points from 24 played.

But the coaching staff have had more than one focus this season, as they always do, testing themselves against other top flight academies with a young squad, after so many players pushed through the ranks early on.

Reflecting on the season gone, Barradell identified key areas for improvement and spoke proudly on the development made throughout the Academy pathway.

“I look at it in two ways,” Barradell opened with. “Ultimately the long-term goal of the Academy is to push players through the pathway, which you’ve seen with the involvement of players in the First Team squad.

Our Under-18s finished 12th in the U18 Premier League.

“That is one front which has gone well, and that’s a testament to the staff in all of the departments that work with the boys through the Academy and then on the other hand, we want to compete in the U18 Premier League, which we have done with a young team.

“We certainly haven’t finished where we wanted to. I’ve always said we want both; to push players along the pathway but also be competitive in the league and I think we fell short of that at times.

“But that comes with having a young group and we’ll certainly be better for it next season, with the experiences that they’ve had in allowing us to be more competitive.”

At times in the season, the Foxes were firing in attack, but were often too open in defence, resulting in high scorelines, which is something Barradell hopes to rectify in the summer preparations.

“We’ve conceded too many goals,” he stated. “It’s important in pre-season to have that hunger and desire to defend as a group. They will have to find different ways to play at times, whether that’s with a high press and defending in a low-block and in different formations.

“I think how we set up for games at times needs work. We had some really exciting players in the front line, so we developed that a lot.

“For me, as a coach, we’ll look to nail down those defensive principles for the young lads as that setup will help us in the long run.”

On the touchline in Seagrave.

Going on to talk about the player’s that have risen through the ranks, the coach has been delighted to see the amount of trust put in the players ability to perform at a higher level.

Barradell added: “The opportunities that the Club has given to some of the young players has been outstanding. We’ve had a good reputation of brining through good players in the past but what you’re seeing now is great.

“That’s my job, we have to look at players that can perform at the higher level, from the Under-15s, to the Under-18s, through the Development Squad. We’ve got more coming through and it’s about recognising that talent.

“Ultimately for me, it’s great to see so many players being trusted. Not just at the First Team level, but throughout the Academy setup. It’s a real achievement and credit to everyone in the Academy for helping along the players’ development.”

Towards the back end of the Premier League season, there has been an influx of Academy players within matchday squads, such as Jake Evans, Olabade Aluko and the eye-catching Jeremy Monga.

Rising through the ranks.

The latter started the season with the Under-18s before making his First Team debut at home against Newcastle at the age of 15 years and 271 days.

Barradell spoke about what it is that Academy staff look for in a young individual, that gives them confidence to promote players up the age groups.

“It’s about the performance of a player,” the coach stated. “There’s certain traits you see in a player everyday in training. The hunger to learn and the ability to transfer that into game situations really quickly.

“The ability to work hard and follow a role that they’re being asked, but it’s also about having no fear. Going in and showing personality in themselves as an individual and its about keeping hold of that and having confidence.

“As staff, that’s what we try to tell them, to have that confidence in themselves and keeping that creativity in their game.

“There’s been some really good progression with players, even ones that are still in their age groups as well so it’s exciting for next year and we hope to build on that, while improving in the league as well.”

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