The Premier League title race has been the focus of everyone associated with Manchester City for the past week. With their 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola’s side has moved to the top of the Premier League. Considering that only two weeks ago that City were nine points behind Arsenal, they have done extremely well to overhaul Mikel Arteta’s side. Up next for Pep Guardiola’s side is an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley on Saturday. Southampton are one of the in-form teams in England, and City cannot afford to overlook Tonda Eckert’s side this weekend.
An in-form Southampton await Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Manchester City will enter Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton as short-priced favourites. That is to be expected given that City sit top of the Premier League, and Southampton are currently fourth in the Championship. However, Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final has the potential to be a banana skin for Pep Guardiola’s side given the form that Southampton brings into the match.
Since January, Southampton has been in the midst of a 20-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Tonda Eckert’s side also eliminated Arsenal in the quarter-final stage of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at St. Mary’s. They have already slain one giant in the FA Cup this season. They’ll be eager to claim another famous FA Cup upset, and they are in a confident mood and exceptional form.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has explained that he is honoured to be managing against Pep Guardiola and Manchester City this weekend. Also, Eckert feel that his team is building to something special this season. He explained, in quotes relayed by ESPN: “First of all, it’s an honour for me to stand on the sideline next to him [City manager Guardiola], but the goal is very clear — we go there to compete and we go there to win the game.”
“It’s a big stadium, obviously, but I don’t go there for the experience. I don’t go there as a spectator. We go there to challenge and I think that’s a very different way of approaching [the occasion].”
“You can feel around the club for many, many weeks and months now that this year is very special.”
Pep Guardiola’s had another box to tick at Wembley.
The challenge is in front of Manchester City is this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. City face an in-form opponent, who are playing for their manager. Tonda Eckert is also keen to see his side take it to Pep Guardiola’s side this weekend at Wembley. Making this season’s FA Cup final will be no straightforward task. Also, making another cup final is another box to tick for this new-look City side.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already won the Carabao Cup this season. That was the first box for this City side to tick off. They’ll now be eager to make another final and give themselves an opportunity to win another major trophy in the FA Cup. Winning silverware can become a habit, and that is what Pep Guardiola is hoping to instill in his new team.
Southampton enter this Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City in form and keen to keep their FA Cup run going. Pep Guardiola’s side has a tough task ahead of them at Wembley. It may not seem that way on paper, but teams don’t go on 20-match unbeaten runs by accident. Another test awaits City at Wembley, and if they can overcome it, it will continue their recent momentum and see them progress to another cup final.
