Oliver Reiss’ side are aiming to retain the historic trophy when we lock horns with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday 5 May at 15:00 (UK).
It follows our young charges securing the Premier League U18 North title last month – meaning we will compete in another final for national glory against our southern equivalent.
Our Under-18s secured a place at the summit with one match spare after winning 21 of our 23 assignments and losing just one of those outings.
Alongside our sparkling league form, we secured a place in the FA Youth Cup final with victories over Crystal Palace, Millwall, Leeds, West Brom and Watford.
And Guardiola is impressed by Reiss’ work and believes he is preparing our Academy players for long careers in the professional game.
“They make an incredible job,” he said.
“New manager and [to] make that team step in terms of intensity which we never had before him.
“So [I] congratulate him of course, for the incredible [job]. Again, succeed and I think the players are much better than they were maybe one, two or three seasons ago.
“They develop a lot of things that it is necessary to compete at the highest level.
“I’m very proud.”
Watch the embargo section of Guardiola’s press conference in the video player above!
