LONDON: Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s remarkable achievement of reaching a fourth consecutive FA Cup final after a dramatic late comeback denied Southampton a famous upset at Wembley.
The Saints looked set for their first final appearance in 23 years when Finn Azaz fired the Championship side ahead with just 11 minutes remaining. However, City responded almost instantly through Jérémy Doku before Nico González sealed a 2-1 semi-final victory with a stunning strike.
City, who lost the last two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United after beating United in 2023, will now face either Chelsea or Leeds United in the final.
The win keeps Guardiola’s side firmly on track for a domestic treble, having already lifted the League Cup last month and currently locked in a tight Premier League title race with Arsenal.
“No team has made four finals in a row. It’s extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with good momentum,” said Guardiola.
The City boss made eight changes from the side that edged Burnley 1-0 earlier in the week, a move that initially appeared risky as Southampton dominated the first half.
However, City improved significantly after the break, with key contributions from substitutes Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, alongside Doku.
“It was difficult but the wingers, when they came in, changed the pace,” Guardiola added. “Football is always unpredictable, but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary.”
