Manchester City Reach FA Cup Final After Exceptional And Extraordinary Display, Guardiola Says

Manchester City reached a fourth straight FA Cup final with a late comeback against Southampton, keeping hopes of a domestic treble alive this season as Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez overturned Finn Azaz’s 79th-minute opener at Wembley.

Nico Gonzalez struck the winner after 86 minutes and 34 seconds, the latest FA Cup semi-final winning goal in normal time since Anthony Martial’s 92:04 effort for Manchester United against Everton in 2016, while City also extended a 22-match winning run in the competition against lower-league opponents dating back to 2018-19.

Southampton failed to register a shot in the first half yet moved ahead when Finn Azaz finished in the 79th minute, before Jeremy Doku quickly levelled and Nico Gonzalez hit a long-range strike, meaning Manchester City conceded first but still advanced with two goals from outside the penalty area in the FA Cup semi-final.

Pep Guardiola praised the impact from the wide players and highlighted the achievement of reaching four successive FA Cup finals, saying: "Exceptional [performance]. It was difficult, but the wingers when they came in changed the pace, the Spaniard told BBC Sport. The first time they crossed the halfway line, they made a fantastic goal. Football is always unpredictable, but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary. It's always nice to be here fighting against top teams. No team has made four finals in a row [before]. It's extraordinary, and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum."

Jeremy Doku became the first Belgian player to score in an FA Cup semi-final since Eden Hazard did so for Chelsea against Tottenham in 2017, and Doku added an assist, created a match-high five chances, completed 11 of 14 dribbles and won 13 of 16 duels to drive Manchester City past Southampton, later reflecting on both the journey and tactical details.

Doku described the feeling of returning to Wembley and assessed Manchester City’s approach, adding thoughts on decision-making in the final third, saying: "Every time you reach the final, you're like, wow, what a journey it has been. Reaching the final again is unbelievable, said Doku. I was analysing the game in the first half. We were playing in the middle a lot. I knew that I had to bring a threat and make it uncomfortable for the full-backs. Everybody tells me I need to be more selfish. When I have the ball, the first thing I think is 'who is free?' Instead of 'where is the goal?' I have to be more selfish in those moments."

Manchester City’s sequence of four consecutive FA Cup finals has all arrived under Pep Guardiola, with the landmark underlined by Opta’s figures, which also highlighted the historic nature of the achievement in the competition’s long history.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert focused on the fine margins against Manchester City and immediately looked ahead to a crucial Championship match against Ipswich Town on Tuesday, saying: "It was a tough performance. We know in these games it is a game of moments, he told BBC Sport. It doesn't happen too often that you lose a game against Man City with two goals scored outside the box. We need to put this game to bed. The real test of maturity comes up on Tuesday. Dedication is clear. I think it gives us extra fuel, and we will make sure we finish strongly this season."

Manchester City now prepare for another FA Cup final appearance while also competing on other fronts, as Guardiola’s side continue to chase a domestic treble, whereas Southampton turn attention back to promotion ambitions, aiming to respond quickly from the Wembley defeat and use the performance as motivation for the remainder of the campaign.