FC Porto produced an impressive display as they beat Sunderland 5-0 to win the 2016/17 Premier League International Cup final but B Team manager Luis Afonso knows it's going to be difficult to defend their title.
The reigning champions face Arsenal and FC Bayern Munich in 2017/18, both making their debuts in the competition, as well as Reading as 12 Premier League 2 teams go head-to-head with 12 Under-23 sides from elite European Academies.
Afonso joked: "We want to be the godfather of Arsenal and Bayern Munich!"
Arsenal and Bayern are no strangers after meeting in four of the last five UEFA Champions League campaigns, and their inclusion adds to a strong competition line-up, which Afonso says provides an important transition between youth and first-team football at senior level.
"This competition occupies a very important space, the transition between the youth teams and the senior sides," Afonso said.
"This year, the roster is stronger than last year. We're looking forward to the competition, to fight the big names as ourselves.
Porto face Arsenal, Reading and Bayern in Group E as they look to retain the #PLInternationalCup
— PL Youth (@PLYouth) August 4, 2017
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"As FC Porto we go into every competition with the desire and ambition to win it, that's our DNA, that's our way to work with younger players, since tender ages.
"We'll try to reach the final, we'll try to win it, but knowing in advance we have a very strong competition and competitors to face."
Porto won the trophy in front of 18,000 fans at the Stadium of Light last season, having been beaten finalists in 2014/15.
Afonso added: "For the boys, they get the chance to play on such an iconic place, a Premier League stadium, in front of the home fans. It was very good."
The Premier League 2 teams come into the new campaign after an impressive summer for England at youth level.
And Afonso believes the technical ability of English players is improving significantly as a result of the Premier League's Elite Player Performance Plan.
"The English players are improving, definitely, and the results are there to show," Afonso added.
"Portugal lost against England in the final of the UEFA Under-19 European Championship. It was a balanced match, an even match.
"The Under-17s were good as well, and the Under-20s won the FIFA World Cup, so that's the proof that something is being done correctly.
"And it's not from last year or two years ago, it's from lots of years. It's a result that reflects years of work to reach the Under-19s, the Under-20s, top-decision games.
"It's a view that English football, youth-wise, is getting better and better.
"We honestly think, we as in all of us, think we're contributing as well to that development, as well as you are to ours."
