West Ham United U18s produced a performance full of character, quality, and resilience to overcome Manchester United and book their place in the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup.
Against a side that had lost just twice all season, the young Hammers rose to the occasion, holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to progress to the last four. Speaking after the full-time whistle, U18s lead coach Lauris Coggin was overcome with pride with his team’s performance, highlighting the significance of the result in a season of transition for his U18s squad.
Of the ten outfield starters who took to the field against Manchester United, five have been regulars for the development side, while plenty of others made an excellent case for further involvement at U21s level.
“I’m really pleased for the boys,” he said. “This group means a lot to the Club and to me personally, having worked closely with them for five years. This season, we’ve seen lots of players step up to the U21s, which is amazing, and younger lads come into the U18s, so to have a moment like this, where we come together and show the values we stand for, is really special.”
Against a Manchester United side that had lost just twice all season and began their Premier League North campaign with eleven straight victories, Coggin was keen to highlight how his young Hammers rose to the challenge. He praised their attacking quality, particularly in the first half, while also acknowledging the physical demands of playing on both Friday and Saturday as the game progressed into extra-time.
“Some of the football we played in the first half was outstanding,” he continued. “In the second half, you could see the effects of the number of games the boys have played recently, and we started to tire. But we dug in and stuck together. We showed grit, determination, real togetherness, and a willingness to fight for each other and the Club. In the end, we got the moment we deserved in the penalty shootout.”
The spot kick that secured our ticket to the semis 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/XM6YoCg6Ax
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 4, 2025
With Graham Potter and members of his first-team coaching staff in attendance, Coggin concluded by noting the importance of the Club’s development pathway, referencing the recent first-team involvement of Ollie Scarles and Lewis Orford in West Ham United’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea.
“It was brilliant to see the first-team staff watching the game,” he added. “Over recent weeks, we’ve seen a clear pathway with Ollie and Lewis getting minutes in the first team. The players are really aware of that opportunity. We appreciate the support, and they’ve certainly done themselves no harm with that performance today!”
