Chelsea are attempting to triumph in the Under-17 Premier League Cup for the first time since it was introduced in its current format in 2020, and are within one victory of lifting the trophy as we take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the final.

That match will kick off at 7pm UK time on Thursday 11 April and will be streamed live for free on the Official Chelsea App, with the Under-17s champions decided on the night, by extra time or a penalty shootout if necessary.

The Blues reached this stage by coming top of a group which featured Crystal Palace, Fulham and Reading, before defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the quarter-finals and then booking our place in the final with a 3-2 win over Manchester City in the last four.

Across our five matches so far, we have netted an impressive 17 goals, conceding six times in reply, with a series of entertaining performances en route to the final.

‘We’ve performed really well in the Under-17s Premier League Cup,’ said Under-18s head coach Hassan Sulaiman, who leads the team alongside his staff, supported by Under-16s head coach James Houghton.

‘The previous game was against Manchester City, when we beat them in the semi-final. That was a really top game, which finished 3-2. Everyone who watched that game, spectators and coaching staff alike, really enjoyed the game.

‘It was a real high-level game, with really good players on both sides and we performed very well. That’s been the story throughout our Under-17s’ cup run.’

In addition to a chance to win silverware, the Under-17 Premier League Cup provides a stepping stone between Under-16s and Under-18s level, with an opportunity for younger players to show their ability and gain experience at a higher level of Academy football.

As a result, our squad for the competition is made up of a mixture of first-year scholars - playing their debut season as a full-time Under-18s player - and schoolboys from our Under-16s side.

That was reflected on the scoresheet in the semi-final win over Man City. Strikes from Frankie Runham and Ollie Harrison, regulars in Sulaiman's older squad, book-ended one from youngster Ryan McAidoo, who was handed his first start for the Under-18s four days after that semi in March.

‘One of the strongest points for us this season is that we don’t have a large number of first years. So the group has been made up of first years and Under-16s, which has been really great for the development of those Under-16 players.

‘To be able to compete against Under-17 players and get to the final is a testament to the work that has been going on throughout the age groups, and certainly with the Under-16s head coach James Houghton.

‘I’ve spoken before about our style of play and the importance of alignment across the age groups. Because of that, players have been able to drop in and out between teams, whether they are Under-17s or Under-16s, and it’s been a seamless transition. That’s been evident in the performances.

‘The competition has been really good for a number of the first years, but that’s been coupled with some really strong performances by the Under-16s. So it’s been a very good competition for us.’

That aspect has only been enhanced by the Chelsea Academy's desire to promote players through the ranks and provide them high-level experience at an early age. That isn't always a philosophy shared by our opponents, who frequently use older Under-18s players in the Under-17 Premier League Cup, making the Blues one of the youngest teams in the competition.

‘Teams are allowed to use four overage players, so most teams that we’ve played against, apart from Man City, have used second years, which we haven’t done,' added Sulaiman.

‘They’ve used their allocation of older players and we haven’t, and I think Wolves will do the same. So it will be a tough game. It’s not going to be a walk in the park, for sure.’

Where to watch the live stream

You can watch our Under-17 Premier League Cup final against Wolverhampton Wanderers live on the Official Chelsea App, complete with enhanced stats and event tracking from MVX, built by Infinite Athlete. It will be available globally free of charge.