Manchester City came from a goal down to beat Southampton 2-1 in the first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley yesterday. Finn Azaz opened the scoring in the 79th minute to give Southampton the lead and hope of a massive FA Cup boil-over. Azaz’s goal was canceled out by Jeremy Doku’s deflected strike in the 82nd minute. Nico won yesterday’s match for his team with a 30-yard wonder strike in the 87th minute. Nico’s goal was the perfect encapsulation of what the Spanish midfielder is capable of when he backs himself. Pep Guardiola said after his team’s win that Nico needs to back his ability more to take his game to the next level.
Nico made a match-winning contribution for Manchester City at Wembley.
With yesterday’s FA Cup semi-final even at 1-1 in the 87th minute, Nico received the ball from Jeremy Doku 35 yards from goal. He took a touch to steady himself before unleashed a 30 yard thunderbolt that gave Southampton keeper Daniel Peretz no chance of saving the shot. The ball thundered in at the near post to give Manchester City and 2-1 lead. Nico’s goal would be the match-winning moment of the match. That one piece of magic from the Spanish midfielder was easily the biggest moment in his City career.
It also capped off a more than solid display from Nico in midfield. Nico helped City maintain dominance of possession against Southampton at Wembley. The Spanish midfielder also helped City break up the play when Southampton attacked. Nico wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but he did his job well stepping into Rodri’s role in the Manchester City midfield yesterday. However, his wonder goal lifted his overall performance from good to great, and as Pep Guardiola spoke of after yesterday’s match, when Nico backs himself, like he did to decide yesterday’s FA Cup semi-final, he will take his game to the next level.
Pep Guardiola pointed out that Nico needs to back himself more to grow as a player.
Speaking with Football on TNT, after Manchester City became the first team in English football history to make four consecutive FA Cup finals, Pep Guardiola explained what Nico had to do to take his game to the next level. Guardiola explained that Nico has to back himself more, rather than playing safe. Guardiola explained: “What a goal! He deserves it because he made an incredible season, replacing Rodri is not easy. He has made a top [season], and what a goal!”
“He’s a guy who has to believe in himself more, ‘I can do more, be more active’. Sometimes he plays to be safe, and the initiative with the goal, that’s the mentality he has to play with as a holding midfielder! He’s a top guy, still young, and he can improve a lot.”
Nico provided the match-winning moment with his thunderbolt that decided yesterday’s FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Southampton. In that one moment, the Spanish midfielder showed what he is capable of when he backs himself to make an impact. Pep Guardiola said that if Nico does this more often, he’ll take his game to another level. Nico has been superb for City this season, but it is hoped that his goal yesterday can lift him to another level as a player.
