Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken about his side’s triumph over Nottingham Forest on Sunday which sent them to the final of the 2024/25 FA Cup.
Manchester City have been stop-start this season, with a form that has stuttered more than a phone call in a bad reception zone. Many accused Guardiola, the club’s most successful manager and the Premier League’s second most successful manager ever, of being out of ideas.
Slowly, he and his team are recovering their best form. While they have failed to defend their Premier League title — Liverpool were confirmed champions of the 2024/25 season on Sunday, usurping them — they have made sure that their trophy hunt is not over.
They are slowly getting fans and critics interested in how their season ends once again, especially with the prospect of their missing out on the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League still a possibility.
Right now, Guardiola is pleased to be able to have this opportunity to leave the season with something and has pledged to not let it slip from his grasp.
Guardiola praises team’s resilience and young stars
“Seven semi-finals in a row, three finals speaks so highly about this generation of players and this Club in itself,” Pep declared. “We are really pleased that we are there. This season has not been good because what defines it is the Premier League.
“Since I have been here always we have been there but we try to avoid the damage and qualify for the Champions League.
“We have five days to play a team like Wolves who are playing really good. We have four finals in the league and then unbelievably pleased to play Crystal Palace here.
“Yesterday you saw how good they are.
“Scoring an early goal helped us, then we continued to play with tempo but we were not clever in the final third and had three or four chances to shoot when we did not. They had chances of course and we were lucky with the post, we cannot deny that but, in general, we played really good.
“Really pleased to be in the final again.”
Guardiola also reserved praise for his young players, especially goalscorer Rico Lewis and the young Nico O’Reilly.
“Rico and Nico O’Reilly played really good. Really pleased,” Pep added. “Rico helps us a lot as a full-back, coming inside but I think his perfect position is in the pocket.
“He moves really well in small spaces like {statorium_player pid=97 sid=343 text=”Phil [Foden]”}. You have to be aggressive in the next action. Rico since he landed with us he’s been really good.
“When we play really good and drop the opponents in the final third, we need players that can move in those small spaces.
“Rico’s one of the best at that I have ever seen. He showed his fantastic quality with the goal.”
