A week ago, the Fundació VCF Cadete was proclaimed MLS Next champion, an international U15 and U17 tournament organized in Florida (USA) the MLS (Major League Soccer) bringing together the best franchises in the USA and some of the best academies in Europe, such as Manchester United, Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon.

"The MLS Next is an incredible tournament played at IMG's spectacular facilities with 16 natural grass pitches and has a very high level. For for the boys to win such a demanding tournament is a spectacular experience".

Sentiment VCF on VCF Media Radio's Ray Henric-Coll, coach of the Fundació VCF Cadete team.

"Soccer in the US is growing, physically they are very strong, technically they are well and tactically they are adjusting more and more. For instance, Manchester United didn't make it past the group stage".

The FVCF Cadete conquered a very demanding tournament in which they finished undefeated, with six wins and a draw in the 1/8 final against Orlando CF in the only match that was complicated after a group stage with full wins against Montreal FC, Colorado Rapids and Austin FC, and then faced some of the most powerful franchises in that generation such as Orlando or Inter Miami.

"That game against Orlando we were trailing with 5 minutes to left and we were able to tie and go through on penalties with Diego Piqueras who was sensational. It's that game when things don't work out for you, but we had that bit of luck that is always needed to win a seven-game tournament".  They went on to eliminate Inter Miami, Brondby and Toulouse in the final, where they won a trophy that they celebrated in style.

Together with the boys and the coaching staff, they have already resumed the domestic competition in which they occupy fourth place in the Liga Autonòmica Cadete, just behind VCF Cadete A, Elche CF A and Villarreal CF A.

"It is a very talented generation, with great potential offensively, with a lot of goals and many players who can score goals, but starting from the back with players who bring ball out and put teammates in advantage. And it's a very competitive team", as shown by their fourth-place finish, most of them being first-year players.

The Fundació VCF Cadete players are performing at a high level in a year of learning in which after having dominated in lower categories they have to incorporate other registers of football.

"It's a year in which you go from dominating a lot in the infantile category in which, so to speak, you compete in few games and you come to a year in which physically you notice the age difference because the rivals dominate you, they crash you and it's hard to land in the category and you have to learn to defend, compete and be more precise with the ball because the margin for error is smaller. And they are doing well in this process," explains Ray, who wants to maintain that competitive tone in this final stretch of the season.

"The improvement in competitiveness is very good and we have to round it off, keep growing and not be satisfied with what we have done".

Instagram: @academiavalenciacf

TW / X:  @academia_VCF