Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City's achievement of becoming the first team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals after a dramatic late comeback against Southampton at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The Championship side were on the verge of their first final in 23 years when Finn Azaz scored a brilliant goal with 11 minutes remaining. However, City responded immediately through Jeremy Doku, and Nico Gonzalez struck a sensational winner to secure a 2-1 victory in the semifinal.
Guardiola's team have lost the last two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United, though they beat United in 2023. City will face either Chelsea or Leeds in the final and remain in contention for a domestic treble, having already won the League Cup and competing closely with Arsenal for the Premier League title.
"No team has made four finals in a row. It's extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum," Guardiola said.
The City manager made eight changes from the side that beat Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday, a decision that appeared risky as Southampton dominated the first half. However, City improved significantly after the break, aided by the introductions of Doku, Erling Haaland, and Bernardo Silva from the bench.
"It was difficult but the wingers (Doku and Savinho) when they came in changed the pace," Guardiola added. "The first time they crossed the halfway line they made a fantastic goal. Football is always unpredictable but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary."
