Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised his young players after their Community Shield defeat to Leicester City.
With more than half-a-dozen players who featured regularly last season still not even back training yet, the City boss named a team that included teenagers Cole Palmer and Sam Edozie.
After an even first-half, City were unlucky that a dominant second period didn't yield a goal and Kelechi Iheanacho's late spot-kick won the Community Shield when a penalty shoot-out beckoned.
"I would have loved to have won the game," admitted Pep.
“Congratulations to Leicester for the Community Shield victory. Our performance was really, really good, especially for this stage of the season and the way we played in the second half was so good.
“The game was well played. They had chances, we had chances and in the second we were so good.
“The courage of the young guys Sam and Cole and the control we had - they only had long balls in the second half.
“They are important players. What I like about them, - Cole was exceptional all game - but when they lost one ball, they tried and tried again.
“In the first half Pereira won the duels with Sam, because he is a top player, but in the second half Sam was better.
“They both like to dribble. They were both exceptional on a big stage at Wembley. They were so good. Congratulations to the Academy.
“They provide me with huge talents. They are working to provide me with good players and we are delighted.
“In general given the short preparation time we had, all the loan players, all the Academy players have been exceptional."
