LONDON: Manchester City’s stellar season gathered yet more
momentum as the runaway Premier League leaders kept alive their hopes of
a quadruple after holding off a spirited challenge from Leicester City
to reach the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
Pep
Guardiola showcased the riches at his disposal by making nine changes as
his team held their nerve to edge through 4-3 on spot-kicks after the
two sides were locked at 1-1 following extra time.
Arsenal,
one of the sides trying vainly to catch City in the league, also
battled into the last four by beating London rivals West Ham United 1-0
with a Danny Welbeck goal at The Emirates.
In an ironic
twist at the King Power Stadium Jamie Vardy — who had earlier scored a
penalty deep into time added on to keep the tie alive — missed his spot
kick in the shootout and Riyad Mahrez had his effort saved by City
keeper Claudio Bravo.
“The way we had to react [after
Leicester’s penalty] was not easy, we were tired, we had a lot of young
players, Danilo was playing at centre-back for the first time in his
life,” said Guardiola. “It’s not easy because Jamie Vardy and Riyad
Mahrez were there.
“What I liked the most is how we reacted and overcame that situation. It’s a good indication for the future.”
The
visitors looked to have booked a semi-final place with a first-half
Bernardo Silva goal until Leicester were awarded a soft looking penalty
seven minutes into stoppage time which Vardy converted to take it beyond
90 minutes.
City, already being hailed as one of the
finest sides of the modern era, can still take a clean sweep of trophies
this term with Guardiola’s side 11 points clear at the top of the
Premier League and in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But Guardiola downplayed the chance of a quadruple.
“That is not going to happen. Of course not,” he said. “Come on, that isn’t real. What we’re living isn’t real.
“The
situation of winning 16 or 17 games in a row in the league and
qualifying for the Champions League before we finished the group stage,
and now we’re here playing with a lot of young players. That is not
normal.
“In football you drop points and you lose
competitions. I am not thinking about how many titles, I am thinking
about the next game.”
Welbeck scored the only goal of a
forgettable game shortly before half time as Arsenal booked a place in
the semi-finals for the first time in six years.
Welbeck’s
persistence in bundling home from close range was one of the few
highlights, a solitary shot on target, in a dull derby but David Moyes’
side never threatened Arsenal, with a wayward Aaron Cresswell free kick
proving their best effort.
