Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football reporter at Joie Stadium

Manchester United's first-team delegation have arrived in their numbers.

Permanent manager in waiting Michael Carrick, assistants Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans have all taken their seats.

Director of football Jason Wilcox pops up at the end as well.

Michael Carrick in attendance. As is Pep Guardiola.

It's a biggie.

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The FA Youth Cup has served as a springboard into the professional game for many top British players.

With the likes of George Best, John Barnes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Jack Wilshere and Gareth Bale have all won the tournament or played in the final.

The rain is absolutely teeming down in Manchester as the national anthem sounds around the Joie Stadium.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

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Michael Carrick will be watching on as Manchester United try to win the FA Youth Cup - and that will only inspire them, says Darren Fletcher.

Carrick has attended several academy games since replacing Ruben Amorim as head coach in January.

As far as youth team coach Fletcher is concerned, that is proof that the boss cares about youth development.

Fletcher is hoping to end his first season as United's Under-18 coach by guiding them to a record 12th FA Youth Cup triumph when they visit Manchester City.

Carrick has spoken of his disappointment that Thursday's final will be staged at Joie Stadium, which holds 6,000 fans, rather than a larger venue.

But he will be there, watching at the same venue he also saw United's Under-21 team beat City in their Premier League 2 play-off semi-final on 8 May.

His son Jacey is part of the academy, but has not been involved in the Youth Cup run.

Former Scotland midfielder Fletcher - who himself joined United as a 15-year-old - knows the players will be lifted by Carrick's presence.

"All the players love it when the first-team manager is there," he said.

"It shows he cares and he's got eyes on it. It inspires them.

"It definitely shows them this is a club that thinks about young players and doesn't just speak about it.

"That's throughout the history of the club, but when you see it in action it brings it to life really. It's powerful and the parents like it."

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Oliver Reiss' free-scoring Manchester City side have netted 18 goals in their run to the final - with wins over Fulham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Blackburn to set up a crunch Manchester derby against United.

They are appearing in their third successive final, and had Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Taylor Harwood-Bellis in their side when they beat Chelsea to win the trophy in 2019-20.

This is the second time they will meet local rivals United in the final. City won the first, in 1986.

Manchester United's route to the Youth Cup final has not been smooth sailing.

Narrow home victories over Peterborough, Derby County - in extra time - and Sunderland, plus a comfortable away win at Oxford United, earned a semi-final against Crystal Palace, when they also needed extra time to get through, thanks to a Chido Obi goal eight minutes from time.

United won the last of their record 11 finals in 2022 when Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho started a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, watched by more than 67,000 at Old Trafford.

BBC iPlayer

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You can watch this one live on BBC iPlayer or on the BBC Sport website and app.

Hit the 'watch and listen' tab at the top of this page.

Coverage begins at 18:50 BST.

Manchester City midfielder Harrison Miles has only scored twice this season, but one of those came courtesy of a rasping, long-range strike against United in the league earlier this term - City came from 2-0 behind to win that game 4-2.

"I can't wait to play," said Miles. "It's my second time playing in a final like this so it's definitely exciting. We know a lot of the players, but it is always big anyway.

"It is a Manchester derby and we are competing in the league. It is probably heightened by that, but we are all just focused on the game and what's to come."

Star striker Teddie Lamb scored in the semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers and has netted a total of 28 goals in just 26 games in all competitions this season.

The prolific 16-year-old joined from Leyton Orient for a reported £355,000, , externallast year and was the top scorer in the Premier League U18 competition. He was nominated for the player of the year award, beaten by Thursday's opponent JJ Gabriel.

There is also interest in the sons of former Premier League players being involved in City's academy set-up - Reigan Heskey, son of ex-Liverpool striker Emile - also scored in the previous round, while Tyrone and Floyd Samba - sons of former QPR and Blackburn defender Chris - have scored 18 goals between them so far this season.

At the back, Leke Drake was named as City's Premier League scholar of the year following an impressive campaign - in which the defender played in every game to skipper the side to the Premier League U18 North title. The 18-year-old is renowned for his ball-playing ability and versatility.

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Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football reporter at Joie Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

The United youngsters have been boosted by the presence of some first-team players including captain Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw.

No pressure then.

JJ Gabriel is one of the most talked about young players in England.

The 15-year-old Londoner was crowned under-18 player of the year by the Premier League this week.

Still too young to play in the Premier League, he operates in the number 10 position and tries to get on the ball as much as possible. He has exceptional balance and close control, is quick and represents a major goal threat.

As he only celebrated his 15th birthday in October, Gabriel currently falls foul of the Premier League regulation that players must be 15 by 31 August of the season in question to be allowed to play. In other words, they have to be in Year 11 at school.

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Chido Obi is one of United's key men. The Denmark youth international made eight first-team appearances last season but has only appeared on the bench once this term. Tall and quick, with an eye for goal, United have been developing other aspects of his game. He will operate at the head of the visitors' attack and try to pin Manchester City's defence back.

Jim Thwaites was on the first-team bench at Chelsea recently. A number 10 at younger levels, Thwaites has been used in deeper positions this season. He has a fabulous passing range, is quick and has plenty of stamina. Also, he can be lethal at free-kicks, as City found to their cost when United won the last league meeting between the sides in February.

Skipper Dan Armer is a key man in central defence, Junior Brown and Noah Ajayi are dangers out wide and goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes has had a solid season.

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This final has been overshadowed by Manchester City's controversial decision to stage the game at Joie Stadium, a 7,000-capacity arena in their training ground complex, rather than Etihad Stadium, where they hosted the win against Leeds in 2024 in front of 20,000 people.

City said the decision is due to construction works taking place at the Etihad.

United complained and said the match should be held at a main stadium, and asked for it to be moved to Old Trafford. The Football Association also wanted the game to be held in a main stadium.

City, the designated home team, refused. United sold their allocation of just under 1,000 tickets in a matter of minutes. Tickets for the home areas are still on sale to City members.

There's nothing quite like a derby in an FA Cup final.

Manchester City and Manchester United have met twice in recent years in the senior cup final with City coming out on top in 2023 and United a year later.

Now it's over to the youth teams to win bragging rights. And a trophy of course.

Asked if there was extra motivation, with the final being against City, Manchester United midfielder Rafe McCormack said: "100%.

"It's obviously a big occasion, but we need to focus on ourselves and what we can do.

"It would have been a bonus to play in the first-team stadium, but to us it doesn't matter. We're just focusing on trying to win the trophy."

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football reporter at Joie Stadium

Manchester City field a daunting-looking frontline for this FA Youth Cup final.

Reigan Heskey, son of Emile and the Samba brothers Floyd and Tyrone, whose father is ex-defender Chris, all start for Oliver Reiss' side.

Topscorer Teddie Lamb, who has scored 28 goals this season, leads the line.

Ryan McAidoo, who has made two first-team appearances in the FA Cup this season and scoring against Exeter, also plays.

Man City XI: Hudson, Headley, Drake, Braithwaite, Wain, Miles, McAidoo, F. Samba, Lamb, T. Samba, R. Heskey.

Substitutes: Vickery, Courtman, Tevenan, Cassim, Gorman, X. Parker, Midwood.

Manchester United give a start to U18s star JJ Gabriel, as expected, playing in behind striker Chido Obi, who made eight first-team appearances last season under Ruben Amorim.

Highly-rated midfielder Amir Ibragimov, who was recently called up to the Russia squad for their forthcoming friendly matches, also starts.

Man Utd XI: Byrne-Hughes, Helafu, Armer, Mills, Kukonki, McCormack, Ibragimov, Thwaites, Gabriel, Obi, Ajayi.

Substitutes: Overy, Heath, Plunkett, Brown, McEvoy, Lusale, Bradbury.

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This will be the first meeting between Manchester City and Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup final since the 1985-86 season, where Manchester City emerged victorious 3-1 over the course of two-legs.

Manchester City come into the FA Youth Cup final after securing their spot in the u18 Premier League final, finishing first in the Northern Group table on 60 points, four points clear of second placed Manchester United.

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Last year's runners-up Manchester City take on 11-time champions Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup final this evening at Joie Stadium.

Stars of the future will be on show this evening as the local rivals battle for bragging rights.

And, you can watch it all live on the BBC. Let's do this.

Nothing quite like a derby to get you up for a game.

How about a derby in a cup final?

Go on then.

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