Manager Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s consistency after securing a 3-1 win over defending champions Newcastle United (5-1 on aggregate) in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
City effectively ended the tie in the first-half itself, scoring thrice via striker Omar Marmoush (7th min, 29th min), and Tijjani Reijnders (32nd min). Although Anthony Elanga pulled one back for the visitors in the 62nd minute, it was too little, too late.
This is the sixth time 11 years that the Sky Blues will play the summit clash at Wembley Stadium, demonstrating their incredible consistency in this competition, something which Guardiola referenced after the match, while admitting he does not take this for granted.
Pep Guardiola
“I’m really pleased [with the result]. Except last season, we have been an incredible machine, and that’s good. [But] it’s not for granted [because] I know how difficult it is,” said the Spanish coach.
Guardiola also lauded how his team approached the game: “To reach the final you have to be consistent over two games and we were really good. What I like the most is that we started like it was 0-0. It was 2-0 [on aggregate], but we didn’t play to control what we won there [in the away leg], it was completely the opposite.” Man City will now face Arsenal in the final on March 22.
Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was left to lament an underwhelming first-half performance from his charges. “Really annoyed with the first-half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us. [But] that first-half we weren’t good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems,” said the English coach.
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