After Manchester City’s victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, Guardiola praised his side’s performance and achievement on reaching their third successive FA Cup final. He also spoke on the performance of Nottingham Forest and individual performances within his side.
Quite humbly, Guardiola opted to congratulate Liverpool on being crowned champions of the Premier League after their 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
“On behalf of myself and all the club we want to congratulate Liverpool on the Premier League. Well deserved, fantastic team. Hopefully next year we are going to be better. But Liverpool, congratulations,” he said.
With the inclusion of some youngster and Manchester City academy graduates in the side today, Guardiola praised the young Citizens Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis.
“They have both been extraordinary and played really, really good. I’m really pleased. I think Rico (Lewis) has helped us a lot as an inverted full-back inside, but I think his perfect position is the pocket because he can move in small spaces like Phil (Foden), and that ability to be aggressive in the spaces. He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, one of the best,” he said.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen asked about reaching the final for a third consecutive season, Pep credited his squad and the achievement of reaching yet another final in his reign as Manchester City boss. “Finals speak highly the volume, so so high, about this generation of players, this club itself. We are really pleased that we are there,” he said.
Nottingham Forest looked to get themselves back into the game after falling 2-0 behind, with Guardiola appreciating the quality of his opponents and the admitted the fortune in which his side had today, with the woodwork being struck three times in the second period for Nottingham Forest.
“We are lucky with the posts. They had chances of course, we can not deny that but I think in the game in general, apart from the action that they had was really good play. We cannot forget that they have one game in hand and if they win it, they are in front of us in the Premier League, so they have done better so we know which opponent we are facing. They have the most clean sheets in the Premier League and we could too had have more chances, so yeah, really pleased to be in the final again,” Guardiola admitted.
Guardiola was finally asked about the possibility of his side winning the FA Cup, finishing in the top five and reaching the UEFA Champions League and if that would be deemed as a successful season, but the former Barcelona boss responded in a sarcastic way, emphasising the fact that it wouldn’t cover up what has been a disappointing season for the reigning Premier League champions.
“No! The season has not been good! We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool, come on! It’s not good, the season has not been good. Look at the Champions League; one game, two games we won. Always we were a machine in that and we’ve not been good. But of course, the damage will be minor. It’s not going to confuse the fact the season has not been good, no,” he claimed.
Manchester City will face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on the 17th May.