Chelsea U18s boss Adi Viveash proud of Youth Cup heroes

Adi Viveash has expressed his pride in his young Chelsea side after the Blues qualified for their fourth FA Youth Cup Final in five years.

A first-half Charlie Colkett strike was the difference between the two sides on Thursday night as Chelsea ran out 1-0 victors at the Emirates to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory, after their 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge seven days earlier – and the Chelsea boss said the achievement is one that should not be underestimated.

"Obviously it’s another big achievement. To get to three consecutive Finals takes a lot of hard work – a lot of teamwork, working together, a lot of good staff and a lot of good players all working together.

"Fortunately we’ve been able to do it, but the desire of the boys has been exceptional – not just over the last three years since I’ve been doing it but over the last seven years.

"I think that’s five Finals in seven years and that takes some doing."

England U18s midfielder Colkett – also a scorer in the first leg – scored the game’s only goal on 16 minutes to give the Blues the cushion they required to qualify for The Final.

But Viveash admitted his side did not have things all their own way in the return leg.

"I actually didn’t think we started that well," he added.

"Arsenal were on top and we were a little bit too deep.

Charlie Colkett scored in both legs of the Semi-Final

"We didn’t press as well as we did at the Bridge, but obviously when we did get it right, the goal was from that – it was through hard work off the ball that we penned them in – the captain wins it high and then the other two midfield players Houghton and Colkett are involved.

"I thought it was fitting that the three midfielders were involved in the goal tonight because over the two legs they’ve been outstanding."

Chelsea now go on to face Fulham – who beat Reading 5-4 on aggregate in their Semi-Final – and Viveash says it's an honour to be involved in the competition.

"It’s the most prestigious U18s tournament in the country – it’s the biggest," he added.

"That’s how we treat it and that’s how they treat it. It means a lot to the players and they obviously emulate team-mates that are around now playing at Under-21s who won it two years ago – and other players that are in the first team that won it a couple of years before that.

"So if you’re anything to do with Chelsea, there’s also an internal rivalry there as well. It means an awful lot to them and it showed."