McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

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McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

Leon McSweeney praised the performance from our Under-21s side to earn a 6-2 success over Birmingham City on Friday.

2025-11-12T08:45+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

12 Nov, 2025

McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

Leon McSweeney praised the performance from our Under-21s side to earn a 6-2 success over Birmingham City on Friday.

Sam Jones

2025-11-12T08:45+00:00

McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

Leon McSweeney praised the performance from our Under-21s side to earn a 6-2 success over Birmingham City on Friday.

Sam Jones

2025-11-12T08:45+00:00

McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

Leon McSweeney praised the performance from our Under-21s side to earn a 6-2 success over Birmingham City on Friday.

Sam Jones

2025-11-12T08:45+00:00

McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With U21s’ Development

Leon McSweeney praised the performance from our Under-21s side to earn a 6-2 success over Birmingham City on Friday.

Sam Jones

2025-11-12T08:45+00:00

City’s Under-21s saw off Birmingham City 6-2 in Premier League 2 last time out to get back to winning ways
The rout included goals from Kirsten Otchere, Bobby Amartey, Amani Richards (2), Darren Motsi and Lorenz Hutchinson
Coach Leon McSweeney shared thoughts on an impressive performance and result in Seagrave

Beating the Blues in convincing fashion at LCFC Training Ground, the result elevates the Foxes youngsters into the top 10 in Premier League 2, moving onto 14 points from the nine matches played.

It was the perfect way to respond to successive defeats, having narrowly lost out to Borussia Monchengladbach II in the Premier League International Cup and been heavily beaten by Manchester City.

“It was a resounding victory,” the coach reflected. “From a coaching perspective and the development of the group, what we’ve been asking for and chasing is that consistency. There’s certainly still things to work on.

“Conceding two goals from set-pieces is something that we look to continue to develop going forwards, but in terms of attacking intent and the threat of the team, scoring goals and that ruthlessness in the opposition box, it was really pleasing. It could have been more; such was the intent of the attacking play we had on the night.

“The competitiveness in all the games, barring the Manchester City defeat, which was the only blot on the copybook over the course of the season so far, they could have gone either way. But that was one in which we didn’t turn up and didn’t produce what we’d like to as staff.”

Fifteen-year-old Darren Motsi became the second-youngest PL2 goalscorer by netting in the win, and there were several other milestones, including first Under-21s goals from Lorenz Hutchinson and Kirsten Otchere.

Goalkeeper Freddie Marson, full-back Michael Toko and winger Riley Carr all made their first starts for the Development Squad, while Christian Boothe got his first taste of PL2 football from the bench.

McSweeney added: “It’s a big achievement. The way he (Motsi) took his goal as well, the first touch was quality. In terms of progressing the young lads, it was a fantastic night’s work. They all contributed really positively.

“Hopefully that gives them a bit more hunger to continue what they’re doing at Under-18s and want more Under-21s opportunities. The way to do that is to keep pushing. We’re giving opportunities to players to go on the pitch and let their football do the talking.

Amani Richards scored twice in the victory.

“The key for us is building the players towards that consistency and getting them senior-ready. They are going to take time to step up to the level, but the talent of the players coming through the Academy has always been there.

“When you have a young group and they are coming up from Under-18s football, set-pieces are always a challenge as the players learn about the physicality and how to protect their goal and deal with man-to-man situations against opponents that are physically dominant.

“The positives from that are that we’re not being cut open from open play. We’ll look to implement little changes and try and get a bit of consistency in that department.

“The experience of playing the games is the best learning factor in their development. That’s why development football is key to bridging the gap between learning how to play and learning how to win games and the key details which define games.

“It’s not always the in-possession and the out-of-possession, but it’s those transition moments and the context of the game.”

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