I turned to my U18 squad. "These are the U18 Premier League National Champions and the FA Youth Cup winners. They have not lost a competitive match since the end of February. They are here today to show you the system we will be implementing. The system that will keep this club in the Premier League."
A murmur went through the senior players. The arrogance was still there, but it was now tinged with a flicker of curiosity. This was not the speech they had been expecting.
"We're going to play a game," I announced. "Eleven versus eleven. Seniors versus the U18s. No restrictions. Full intensity. I want to see who's hungry."
On the training pitch, the two teams lined up. The senior team in their usual training kit. Facing them was my U18 championship squad, with one notable addition. I had pulled Aaron Wan-Bissaka from the U21s to play right-back.
