When you are a new team in a competition, the aim is always to try and make as big an impact as possible, and that’s exactly what Swansea City have done.
It certainly got fans talking when it was announced that both the Swans and Cardiff City would be taking part in the Nathaniel MG Cup this season, but both have been fantastic additions to the competition.
For Swansea under-21 head coach Anthony Wright, the competition has offered a myriad of opportunities and challenges, all of which he has enjoyed.
“It’s been brilliant. We want to give these players different experiences, and I think this competition has done just that.
“When we played Carmarthen, we had only been back in training two-three weeks, so that posed us a couple of selection issues. There was a big crowd down there, which is great for our players. Also, with the physicality, it’s given a chance for our players to know how to protect themselves and use it to their advantage.
“We progressed and defeated Caerau Ely, and then we played Cardiff, and that was a big occasion.
“We tried to really hype the game and occasion up, which we don’t usually do, just so we can put the players under different pressures, to see if emotionally they can control themselves. It was a big occasion for the players, and I thought we dealt with it really well throughout the game.
“We came through on penalties, and that’s happened twice this competition. Our players don’t get that opportunity very often, so as a learning experience, that’s another massive boost to us.
“The returns have been absolutely endless, and it’s been really good for us.”
It certainly has been a mixed journey for the young Swans, but one where they’ve come through, and now they are preparing for the final at Jenner Park.
The players are certainly aware of the chance that’s in front of them, and according to midfielder Ben Lloyd, they are going all out in training in preparation for this game.
“There’s definitely been more of a buzz in training this week. You can tell in the changing room; everyone is talking about it and all the boys are really looking forward to it.
“We’ve got a tough week of training now, and hopefully we will be the ones lifting the trophy on Saturday.”
“We’re feeling good. It’s been a real good week for the players,” Wright added.
“It’s not something we get to prepare for too often, but everyone is quite excited about it, but we haven’t done anything major from our regular week to week prep.
“Over the last two days on the training ground, you can see how important this game is and there’s been an extra little lift in training.”
Standing between Swansea and their destiny are The New Saints, nine times Nathaniel MG Cup champions.
Lloyd is fully aware of the dangers TNS pose but believes he and his young teammates could spring a surprise or two.
“We expect them to be professionals and be really good. We’re going to have to be on the top of our game to beat them, but there’s nothing that we can’t do.
“We back ourselves as a team and hopefully we will be the ones lifting the trophy.
“All the boys, we’re all pretty confident. We all know if we play our best game that we can beat anyone.
“We obviously have to give TNS respect with everything that they’ve done and won, but we can’t give them too much respect.”
There is no doubt that lifting the MG Cup on Saturday will be the icing on top of the cake for Anthony Wright and his men.
However, the manager is hoping that a good performance will be able to take them to the top.
“The main objective was to do our best and try and get to the final, which we’ve done, and now we want to do our best to win it.
“We know how difficult it’s going to be, we know we’re coming up against the toughest opponent we could come across, so all of us need to be on our A game, and we will have to be at a very high standard to compete on Saturday.
“If we do that, hopefully we can come away with a positive result.”
Purchase your tickets for the final HERE or buy on the gate on matchday.
