Manager Pep Guardiola highlighted the importance of the FA Cup for Manchester City after they survived a scare for the second round in succession as they beat Championship strugglers, Plymouth Argyle, 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals on Saturday, March 1.
Teenager Nico O’Reilly saved City’s blushes with two headed goals after Ukrainian defender Maksym Talovierov had sent thousands of visiting fans into delirium by heading Plymouth into the lead at the Etihad Stadium.
Both his goals were set up by playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who added a late third goal to finish off the south-coast side.
While Plymouth were unable to emulate their shock victory over English Premier League leaders Liverpool in the fourth round, City will now be big favourites to win the FA Cup for the third time under Guardiola and salvage something from the season.
City also had to come from behind to beat third-tier Leyton Orient in the previous round.
“We created a lot and conceded little – the basics we have done for many years. We’re happy to reach the quarter-finals and with the way we played,” Guardiola told BBC Sport.
“How many times in the last years have we reached the semi-finals? When you arrive six times in a row in the semi-finals, it’s because (the FA Cup) is important.
“When you play in this competition and you behave like the way we behave, I’m so proud – I love it. We’re one game away from Wembley and we’ll see what happens.”
O’Reilly headed home a de Bruyne delivery in first-half stoppage time and City laid siege to Plymouth’s goal in the second period before O’Reilly again was in the right place to head de Bruyne’s corner into the net in the 76th minute.
“Two goals from left back, I wasn’t really expecting that,” 19-year-old midfielder O’Reilly, who also scored in the 8-0 victory over Salford City in the third round, told the BBC.
“I don’t mind playing anywhere. Wherever the gaffer puts me, I’m happy. I want to get more minutes, keep my head down and keep going… Going into half-time 1-0 down would have been tough, but (the first goal) lifted the spirits.”
De Bruyne rounded off an impressive display by making absolutely sure of City’s progress in the final minute with a tap-in after Erling Haaland had been denied.
The FA Cup is Premier League champions City’s last chance for silverware this season after stumbling badly in the league and crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Plymouth are second-from-bottom of the second-tier Championship, but held their own against City with a display every bit as gritty as in their stunning victory over Liverpool.
“We can only be disappointed with the result, but proud of the performance,” said Miron Muslic, who replaced Wayne Rooney as Plymouth’s manager this season.
“We deserved the lead, we used our chances. We concede with the last action of the first half, but that’s just how it is. We tried right until the end…
“We gave Man City a game – a proper one. We created some problems for them and had a good defensive structure.
“It’s City, with the best players and definitely the best coach in the world, who will come up with some solutions.”
- REUTERS
