Manchester City boss eyeing “incredible milestone” of eight FA Cup semi-finals in a row
Pep Guardiola has backed his Manchester City side to overcome a Liverpool-sized challenge on their way to a record eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final, channelling their performance in the Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal.
City head into the quarter-final on Saturday in strong form after beating the Gunners to the first English domestic trophy of the season, winning 2-0 at Wembley last month. Guardiola believes City can ride on that to outmanoeuvre Arne Slot’s side in their push for further silverware this season.
“Once you finish one, it is the next one,” Guardiola said. “[On Saturday] we have the chance to reach an incredible milestone, to make eight semi-finals in a row. It’s never happened.
“It is a prestigious competition, and one of the toughest, special opponents for all of us, Liverpool.”
Liverpool strongly contended with City during the Jurgen Klopp era but in Slot’s second season the Reds have been underwhelming, and Guardiola’s side, second in the league and having already defeated league leaders Arsenal to claim the Carabao Cup, are clear favourites.
They have already beaten Liverpool twice in the league this season, including a 2-1 comeback win at Anfield in February.
“So many times they have been the rival, the biggest, biggest one, top contender, top class players, all of them,” Guardiola said. “Hopefully we have to perform in the level we did against Arsenal to reach the next step.”
City’s boss also praised “one of the greatest” players in the world Mohamed Salah following news that the forward will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
“The numbers, the consistency, what a player,” Guardiola said. “Absolute legend, of course for Liverpool, but [also] for the Premier League.”
