Manchester City moved one step closer to completing another domestic treble after coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at Wembley.
A catalyst for their success was substitute, Jeremy Doku, who spoke to the BBC after the game and said “Of course! For sure!” when questioned about a possible repeat of the 2018/19 season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already picked up one trophy this season, beating Arsenal last month in the Carabao Cup final. Their victory over Mikel Arteta’s men last week in the Premier League looks set to give supporters an intense end to the campaign.
The Sky Blues will find out who they will face in the FA Cup final tomorrow when Chelsea take on Leeds United.
Doku leads Man City to FA Cup final
The 23-year-old was named amongst the substitutes this afternoon in a rotated side, though he was introduced to the game just before the hour mark.
After Azaz’s sensational effort beat James Trafford from distance, Guardiola’s men had to respond, and they did just that. Within ten minutes, the game was turned on its head, first with a goal from Doku, which was followed up five minutes later by a long-range strike from Nico Gonzalez.
The winger was outstanding after coming from the bench, and his effort found the bottom corner after taking a deflection, and it’s something that he’s been told to do more of.
“Everybody tells me this (shooting more), I need to be more selfish. My first reaction when I dribble is ‘who is free’ instead of ‘where is the goal?”
His goal was decisive in breaking down Tonda Eckert’s side’s defence, which frustrated City for most of the afternoon.
In the quarter final, the Saints faced Arsenal at St Mary’s, where they advanced thanks to a late winner from Shea Charles.
Doku spoke highly of the opposition and credited them for their quarter-final clash with the current league leaders.
“I watched their game against Arsenal, and I felt like they deserved to win.”
Doku and his teammates have time to reflect on another successful day at Wembley before they return to league action, where they travel to the Hill Dickson Stadium for the first time, where they take on Everton in a Monday night clash.
The mentality of Pep’s troops
In seasons gone by, there has been little to separate teams that have gone head-to-head with the Spaniard’s side in the league.
A defeat today could have helped Arteta’s side build extra confidence with four games remaining in the league, while for the Cityzens, it could have planted seeds of doubt.
Instead, they went on to win it late, which has been accustomed to the way City have dealt with pressure under Guardiola.
This evening was another example of the team’s will to win. With pressure rising and defeat looming, Guardiola’s team found a way once again to keep their ambitions alive.
