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Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City’s form over the past four months is one of the “greatest achievements” since he joined the club in 2016.
City managed a 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive season, the first time they have accomplished the feat since 1931-32 and 1933-34.
The result marked a new club record of 17 consecutive undefeated away games, breaking the record previously set between January and September 1999.
Since City’s loss to Tottenham on November 21, they have won 29 of their 33 matches in all competitions, losing just once, to neighbors Manchester United in the Premier League earlier this month.
And Guardiola attributed his team’s amazing form to its ability to adapt to different challenges.
“We have to adapt; every game is different,” he told a news conference after the victory at Goodison Park. “Managers know what to do.
“But when you win a lot of games like we have in the last four months, it’s because you can adapt. That’s what I like the most. It’s not just tactics, it’s mental, being ready in every game.
“What we have done is more than extraordinary. Is incredible. One of the greatest achievements we have achieved together.
“We haven’t won anything yet, so we will be focused and see how far we go in the competitions.
“In this period, playing every three days, with incredible commitment in each competition, I have no words to express that.”
While City dominated proceedings against the Toffees, restricting the hosts to their lowest possession figure (26 percent) in all competitions since March 2018, they had to wait until the 84th minute to make the breakthrough.
It was courtesy of Ilkay Gundogan’s 12th goal in all competitions since the turn of the year, which is more than any other Premier League player.
Kevin De Bruye added a second six minutes later, and Guardiola was satisfied with his team’s patience against stubborn opponents.
“We knew how tough it would be; the FA Cup, out, against Everton,” he added. “They defend incredibly well and have the rhythm of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“Every shot is like a corner and they have great players, like [Yerry] Mine. These games need patience. We knew that the team that scored would win the game.
“All the players were fantastic and Riyad [Mahrez] and Kevin in the last minutes was able to change the rhythm. We found the goal and we are in the semifinal.
“We knew it would be one of the toughest games we would face.”
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