For English sides qualification was via performance in the
2013–14 Barclays Under 21 Premier League with the top eight sides qualifying for the competition.
Liverpool U21s and
Manchester United U21s did not take up the opportunity to enter the competition and they were replaced with
West Ham U21s and
Norwich City U21s who finished 9th and 10th respectively. Entry of European teams was by invitation and was influenced by the quality of each club's academy. ==Group stage==