Online Reporter
PEP GUARDIOLA yesterday saw Manchester City laboured into FA Cup fnal wearing a bespoke hoodie emblazoned with “P” on his chest to commemorate 10 years at Manchester City.
He has now led the club to a 24th appearance at Wembley.
Puma’s hoodies with Guardiola’s initial are “inspired by the most iconic moments of his reign” and Nico González added to those with his winner, finding the top corner when extra-time was in sight after Jérémy Doku had cancelled out Finn Azaz’s opener.
There are bigger battles for City in the next month, with a Premier League title within their sights after looking unlikely at the start of the year when they could not string victories together. Nobody at that stage would have thought that they would compete for a domestic Treble. But here they are, still waiting to hit top form.
Guardiola was slumped in his chair sipping water when Azaz scored, but eventually his decisions turned the game – bringing on the cavalry after a Cup shock looked a possibility. He did not particularly want to bring on Bernardo Silva or Doku on, yet those first-choice players were on the pitch to turn this tie around. Southampton appeared to be on the verge of an incredible upset, when Azaz curled in a sumptuous 79th-minute effort into the top corner to open the scoring.
However, Man City didn’t panic and equalised a few moments later through Doku’s deflected strike.
Man City’s comeback was complete in the 87th minute, when Gonzalez powered a thunderous shot into the top corner. Guardiola’s side will now play either Chelsea or Leeds United in the FA Cup final on May 16. — Telegraph
