Cardiff City Academy players have tested themselves against some of Europe’s leading clubs.
The young Bluebirds took on Inter Milan, Feyenoord and Ajax.
Cardiff’s under-11s defeated all three, while the under-9 and under-10 teams also earned positive results.
These close-season tests were designed to competitively test the club’s younger age groups against some of Europe’s strongest Academy teams in a demanding environment.
Lead Foundation Coach Lawrence Hallett said: “While the results were favourable, we were more impressed by how we could impose our possession-based playing style on some of Europe’s strongest Academies.
“The players were subjected to an entirely different set of challenges, ranging from playing styles to travelling away from their families for the first time.
“Their behaviour and representation of Cardiff City’s Academy was exemplary.”
The trips were made possible for the three age groups thanks to the extensive fundraising of parents and guardians of those at City’s Academy.
Cardiff also thanked Involve Recruitment and Edwards Coaches for their support of the Academy and financial contribution towards these tours.
First on their travels were the under-10 team, who played Inter Milan in Southampton before making the trip to Spain to take on Levante and Villarreal.
Results – under-10: Inter Milan 2, Cardiff City 2; Villarreal B 6, Cardiff City B 6; Villarreal A 5, Cardiff City A 6; Levante B 3, Cardiff City B 2; Levante A 5, Cardiff City A 3.
Before travelling to the Netherlands for a round of fixtures against Eredivisie champions, Feyenoord and Ajax, Cardiff’s under-11 side also travelled to Southampton play, and defeat, Inter Milan.
Results – under-11: Inter Milan 0, Cardiff City 2; Feyenoord 1, Cardiff City 4; Ajax 10, Cardiff City 13.
Cardiff City’s under-9 team joined the under-11s in the Netherlands, earning a positive win against Ajax in the process.
Results – under-9: Feyenoord 12, Cardiff City 1; Ajax 10, Cardiff City 12.
