The City midfielder opened the scoring to help Gareth Taylor’s young side record a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in Wednesday’s fourth round tie and so book a last 16 home clash with Fulham.
Having been at City for more than a decade, Fiorini knows better than most just what the FA Youth Cup means to everyone in the Academy.
And with City having lost out in four finals since our last Youth Cup win back in 2008 - including that 5-3 loss on penalties to Liverpool in last season’s showpiece – the 18-year-old says there is a burning hunger within the entire squad to go one step further this term and lift the trophy.
“We lost it in a cruel way last season. There’s nothing worse than to lose on penalties in the final,” Fiorini recalled.
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“Growing up in the Under 14s, 15s and 16s, you watch the FA Youth Cup and it’s what you are waiting for; the chance to get out on the pitch and show what you can do.
“So, hopefully, this year we can make that final step and I think we have a great set of lads who are determined to try and go out to get the win.
“We have a strong core in the squad with me Taylor (Harwood-Bellis), Tommy (Doyle), Rowan (McDonald) and Cole (Palmer).
“We have all played together here since Under-7s level and, hopefully, we can guide everyone else along the way.
“The Club has had a good record in the FA Youth Cup but just not managed to go all the way, so we want to be the first team to go on and do it since 2008.
“But we don’t feel any extra pressure – we don’t talk about the past. It’s a big competition in England and we want to win it.”
Despite scoring twice inside the first 15 minutes and peppering the Villa goal with a succession of shots, a late strike by the visitors made for a tense final five minutes in Wednesday’s encounter.
However, City held firm to seal a fifth-round date with Fulham, who recorded a 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Wednesday.
It promises to be another tough examination for Taylor’s young charges with Fulham in impressive form this season.
But, with City top of the Under 18 Premier League North and also through to the quarter finals of the Under 18 Premier League Cup, Fiorini says the squad are full of confidence and belief.
“We started so well in the first 35 minutes against Villa and it was exactly what we wanted,” Fiorini added.
“But then we dropped off the last part if the first half and that carried over to the second half a bit but, in the end, we got the win which is all that counts.
“It was good to help the team by opening the scoring and I thought that I did my bit and could have had one or two more, but I was happy.
“Whoever we play we don’t really change. We’ll take Fulham just as seriously as anyone else and hopefully we can get through to the next round and carry on what we have been doing all season.
“We are top of the Under 18s league and going well in both the FA Youth Cup and the Under-18 Premier League so let’s keep it going.”
