City boss praises young stars and De Bruyne as quarter-final berth keeps trophy hopes alive
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has declared his side will “fight” for the FA Cup after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday evening. The win, which came after an early scare, secured City’s place in the quarter-finals and kept their hopes of silverware alive in a season that has seen them exit the UEFA Champions League.
The Championship side stunned the Etihad crowd when Maksym Talovierov put Plymouth ahead late in the first half. However, City’s 19-year-old academy star Nico O’Reilly equalized in stoppage time, before adding a second goal in the 76th minute. Veteran playmaker Kevin De Bruyne sealed the win with a late strike, ensuring City’s progression.
Speaking to ITV after the match, Guardiola praised Plymouth for their resilience, saying, “Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so difficult. They were incredibly organised, but we played a good game – really good. We conceded a goal, but we were so solid. I’m really pleased with the performance.”
Looking ahead to the FA Cup draw, Guardiola emphasized the challenge ahead, noting, “No team has been in the semi-finals five or six times in a row. Now we will fight, see the draw, and see what happens.”
The City boss also took time to highlight the contributions of his players, particularly O’Reilly and De Bruyne. Of the young left-back, Guardiola said, “It looks like our left-backs score our goals. He’s a different type of academy player – a big presence who can play in three or four positions. I’m really happy for him; he helped us a lot.”
On De Bruyne, whose future at the club remains uncertain, Guardiola was effusive in his praise, calling the Belgian “one of the best three to five players in this club’s history.” He added, “Every time he performs well, I’m the happiest man on the planet. He’s given so much to the team and to me, and he played really, really well today.”
In a post-match press conference, Guardiola also provided an update on midfielder Rodri, who has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury early in the season. The Spaniard revealed that Rodri has begun individual training and could return to first-team action before the end of the campaign.
“Fans must know they’re not the only ones excited,” Guardiola said. “It’s been five and a half, six months since the injury. But we have to take it step by step – no stupid decisions or setbacks. He’s not close yet, but he was touching the ball today in the locker room, and he feels confident and happier. I think before the end of the season, maybe in the Club World Cup or Premier League, he could return.”
With the FA Cup now City’s primary focus, Guardiola and his squad are determined to end the season on a high, fighting for a trophy that could salvage what has been a challenging campaign.
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