Pep Guardiola delighted after ‘perfect’ Manchester City clear FA Cup semi-final hurdle
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring their second goal with teammate Erling Haaland.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was “happy and really satisfied” after his side eased past second-tier Sheffield United on Saturday to snap their losing streak in the English FA Cup semi-finals.
Guardiola made six changes to the team who drew at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, with a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick securing City a 3-0 win and a spot in the final, where they will face either Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion, who faced off on Sunday.
The result of that semi-final was not available at press time.
“It’s the fourth time in a row we are here, and the last three against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool we could not do it,” said Guardiola.
“Today we performed. This game is coming on the back of Bayern, and we talked about how we have to try again and perform well – and they did really well with all the guys, the ones that came from the bench... everyone was perfect.
“I’m happy and really satisfied for all the club to be after many years in the FA Cup final.”
Guardiola highlighted the contribution of goalscorer Mahrez, who did not feature in either of City’s Champions League quarter-final games against Bayern.
“Always he’s grumpy with me when he doesn’t play,” the Spaniard said.
“All the time, he makes me notice he’s grumpy. Today, no. He’s an exceptional player and his play was exceptional. A biggest-stage player who has the mentality to score goals.”
Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez scores their third goal past Sheffield United’s Wes Foderingham to complete his hat-trick.
PHOTO: REUTERS
City, who are second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Arsenal (75) but with two games in hand, have also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
If City win all three competitions, they will match local rivals United’s treble-winning season in 1999.
Asked if United fans had reason to fear City matching their achievement, Guardiola joked: “They don’t have to be scared, we are neighbours, neighbours are always nice to each other.
“I said yesterday we are far away from the treble and this discussion for a funny moment is OK.”
City next host Arsenal in a top-of-the-table league clash on Wednesday, in which they can seize control of the title race.
With the Arsenal match in mind, Guardiola rested Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones, Ruben Dias and Ederson among six changes from the side who drew at Bayern.
Yet the gulf in class between the two sides was summed up by City’s 79 per cent possession and by the fact that back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was largely a spectator.
Mahrez fired City ahead from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute.
The 32-year-old then waltzed through some flimsy defending to make it 2-0 in the 61st minute and completed his hat-trick five minutes later with a clinical finish from Jack Grealish’s low cross.
It was the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since Alex Dawson for Manchester United against Fulham in 1958.
Riyad Mahrez shoots from the penalty spot to score City’s opening goal.
PHOTO: AFP
For the Blades, their focus now switches to securing the three points they need to seal a return to the Premier League. They can do that with a home win over West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.
Said manager Paul Heckingbottom: “There is a lot of frustration there. But I saw a team go right to the end. There are big lessons from that game, if we get the points we want on Wednesday night and get to where we want to be, that’s the benchmark...
“Having seen the fans today, I am determined and focused to get promotion for everyone at the club and will fight for the three points on Wednesday so that we do it at Bramall Lane.” REUTERS, AFP
