Every game is a final for Man City – Guardiola embraces treble hunt

Pep Guardiola said that every game feels like a final after Manchester City stepped up their quest to complete a treble by advancing to the last four of the FA Cup.

The Citizens reached the semi-finals of the competition for the fifth time in six seasons after a commanding 4-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s.

Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne were on target either side of an Aymeric Laporte own goal, while substitutes Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez sealed the deal later on.

The Premier League leaders, who also have a Champions League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid to look forward to, remain in the hunt for three trophies this season. 

Impressed with the improvement of his side’s performance after the break against the Saints, Guardiola is well aware of the stakes on offer with every game that passes.

Semi-finals here we come!

1-4#ManCity pic.twitter.com/NHOFuyMYFk

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 20, 2022

The Spaniard told BBC Sport: “For the last 15 [minutes] of the first half, we forgot to play, knowing that this would be difficult because Southampton is one of the best, most organised teams we face all season.

“They push you with incredible intensity, but the goal we conceded was a consequence of us forgetting to play.

“The second half was much better, in personality and play. They had one chance for Che Adams, at 2-1, but the quality of our players up front made the difference.

“It was not a comfortable victory, but now we go into the international break.

“There are two months left in the season, and we are in three competitions. We know every game is a final, and we knew it was important not to lose today.”

De Bruyne, who was on target from the penalty spot, believes the third – a stunning 20-yard Foden volley – and fourth goals epitomised the quality that City possess.

And the Belgium international, who was part of the side that lifted the trophy in 2019, has his sights set on doing so again having suffered semi-final defeats in each of the last two seasons.

The midfielder added: “I think the first 20 minutes and the last half an hour, we did well. In between, we made too many stupid mistakes and even with their goal, we should have just played it out – there were 30 seconds to go until half-time.

“We chose the wrong options and Southampton came back into the game. Not a lot was said at half-time, but we had to play better, and we did that.

“But I think the reaction was really good; the second half, we dominated, and we did much better.

“The third and fourth goals were beautiful goals, and we saw then how good we can play.

“We want to win every competition we enter. We have lost in a couple of FA Cup semi-finals, but we are very happy and privileged we go again and hopefully, we can win it this time.”