Ben Wilkinson’s young charges lock horns with the Robins at the Joie Stadium on Tuesday 2 April with a place in the prestigious tournament’s showpiece up for grabs.
The tie is available to watch on CITY+ and it represents the second straight season we have reached the last four of the competition after last term’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Arsenal after extra-time last term.
With City looking to advance this time around, Nmecha – who played in the 2016 and 2017 FA Youth Cup final defeats to Chelsea – has encouraged our current Under-18s to enjoy the occasion at this stage of their fledgling careers.
“When we were there [in the Under-18s] it was always really competitive between us players,” he explained.
“We were so used to winning a lot of games in the North division and we felt really confident.
“So we just went into the games with confidence, but it is quite crazy how as good as everyone is at that level there is still a big difference between some players.
“Some players in our Youth Cup team don’t play football now and some are playing at a crazy level. So, in the moment, just work hard and enjoy it, but don’t take your foot off the gas either.”
City’s Under-18s faced Chelsea in consecutive FA Youth Cup finals in 2016 and 2017 with Nmecha playing a starring role en route to the respective finals.
A 4-2 aggregate defeat was followed by a 6-2 loss over two legs the season after.
Since then, a swathe of players who featured in either showpiece, including Phil Foden, have forged strong professional careers.
For Nmecha - who is now plying his trade for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga - he believes City’s Academy provides strong foundations for a prosperous career in the game.
And he says he’s pleased to see his former under-18s colleagues flourish.
He continued: “In the Youth Cup – there were a lot of good players in that team.
“Brahim Diaz, Jadon Sancho and quite a few players who are still having good careers. Now is the time, I’m 25, they’re like 22, 23, now they’re starting to be seen a lot more.
“We did really well. Chelsea, at that age, were still a bit more physically developed. A bit stronger a bit faster here and there.
“We did well to get to the final, but in the final they were just better to be fair.
“It’s nice [to see former team-mates do well].
“My brother is doing well now at Dortmund and the opportunities are definitely there and it’s a good foundation [at City] – technically and tactically for that type of football.”
