Manchester City booked their place in the final of the FA Cup after seeing off Southampton in the semi-finals, becoming the first team in English top-flight history to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals.
After being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid, City rediscovered their form and embarked on a six-game winning streak, defeating the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal twice.
Having scored 14 goals across those six matches, City looked comfortably like the title-chasing machine of old, merciless in front of goal and solid defensively.
In their most recent match against Arsenal, Rodri was substituted with an injury, meaning Nico O’Reilly started as the pivot alongside Bernardo Silva against Burnley.
Some clear issues emerged as City struggled to break down a resolute Burnley side, eventually winning by a single goal to move to the top of the table.
Against Southampton, Pep Guardiola opted for heavy rotation, with only three players from the previous Premier League fixture retained in the starting line-up.
The first half saw City enjoy 65 per cent of possession, yet they managed to create only a single big chance and one shot on target. The Citizens were sorely missing their firepower in attack.
The second half saw City press forward more aggressively, but the breakthrough came at the other end. Finn Azaz picked up the ball on the edge of the City box, turned into space on the left side of zone 14, and curled an unstoppable effort into the far corner.
City appeared to be heading out of the tournament until substitute Jeremy Doku took matters into his own hands in the 82nd minute, unleashing a strike from the edge of the Southampton box that deflected into the net.
Just five minutes later, Nico Gonzalez found a plethora of space ahead of him and decided to take his chance, firing a powerful effort that curled away from Daniel Peretz and nestled into the back of the net.
Within eight minutes of Azaz giving the Saints hope, City had turned the tie on its head and booked their place in the final of the FA Cup.
But what are the four things we learnt from this match? Let us have a look.
Jeremy Doku proving he is more than just a dribbler
Doku has made significant strides in his output this season, contributing crucial goals and assists at a far higher rate than in his previous campaigns at City.
The Belgian has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances this term.
Those assist numbers do not even tell the full story. More often than not, Doku draws two defenders towards him before threading an underlapping pass into the half-space, where the receiving player then provides the final ball.
His overall understanding of the game has also improved considerably. He is now far more adept at reading situations, knowing when to commit to a dribble and when to release the ball.
Doku ranks first for successful dribbles across Europe’s top five leagues, while also leading all Premier League players for progressive carries, ball-carrying frequency, touches in the box, and progressive pass accuracy.
Life without Rodri offers Nico González his chance
Rodri was substituted with an injury against Arsenal and has not featured since, missing City’s victories over Burnley and Southampton.
O’Reilly started as the holding midfielder against Burnley, while Nico Gonzalez, who had been sidelined following Rodri’s return from injury, was handed the start against Southampton.
Rodri boasts superior passing statistics, but the two are surprisingly well-matched in their defensive contributions.
The Spaniard is understandably preferred, given his ability to control the tempo and play out of tight situations with composure, along with the invaluable experience of multiple title run-ins.
However, Gonzalez is just 24 years old and could serve as the long-term successor to the 29-year-old Rodri, whose contract expires in June 2027.
Gonzalez has the tools to develop into the ideal replacement, and if anyone can nurture that progression, it is Guardiola. Abdukodir Khusanov’s transformation under the Catalan is evidence enough of that.
Matheus Nunes makes the right-back role his own
One of the biggest revelations of City’s season has come from an unlikely source. Matheus Nunes has cemented his place at right-back after struggling to establish himself in the starting line-up during the previous campaigns.
City were actively in the market for a right-back at the start of the season, unconvinced by Nunes’ suitability for the role following his performances at the end of the last season.
Ultimately, no signing materialised, and Nunes was entrusted with the position. It is a decision that has paid off handsomely.
The Portuguese fulfils multiple duties from right-back. At times, he tucks inside as a third centre-back during the build-up, while on other occasions, he pushes high and wide to deliver crosses or makes underlapping runs into the half-space.
Nunes has registered seven assists this season, while averaging 1.7 tackles and three clearances per match. He has been equally dependable at the back, committing noticeably fewer errors leading to goals than in previous campaigns.
History-making Man City march on at Wembley
City have now reached the FA Cup final for four consecutive years, a feat unprecedented in English football history.
In 2022-23, City defeated Manchester United to lift the trophy. In 2023-24, they were beaten by United in the final, and in 2024-25, history repeated itself as Crystal Palace inflicted the same fate.
In a tournament where one poor performance spells elimination, City have showcased remarkable sustained dominance across multiple seasons, a testament to the brilliance of Pep Guardiola’s management.
The Citizens will be desperate to go one further this time, with a domestic treble still within reach. That feat has only been achieved once before in English football, by City themselves in 2022-23.
They will face the winner of the other semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds at Wembley.