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.
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“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.”
