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<\/a><\/p>\n(Reuters) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was “happy and really satisfied” after his side eased past second-tier Sheffield United on Saturday to snap their losing streak in FA Cup semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Guardiola made six changes from the team, which drew at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, with a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick securing City a 3-0 win and a spot in the final, where they will face either Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion.<\/p>\n
“It’s the fourth time in a row we are here, and the last three against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool we could not do it,” Guardiola told reporters after the win.<\/p>\n
“Today we performed. This game is coming on the back of Bayern, and we talked about how we have to try again and perform well – and they did really well with all the guys, the ones that came from the bench… everyone was perfect.<\/p>\n
“I’m happy and really satisfied for all the club to be after many years in the FA Cup final.”<\/p>\n
Guardiola highlighted the contribution of goalscorer Mahrez, who did not feature in either of City’s Champions League quarter-final games against Bayern.<\/p>\n
“Always he’s grumpy with me when he doesn’t play,” Guardiola said. <\/p>\n
“All the time, he makes me notice he’s grumpy. Today, no. He’s an exceptional player and his play was exceptional. A biggest-stage player who has the mentality to score goals.”<\/p>\n
City, who are second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Arsenal but with two games in hand, have also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
If City win all three competitions, they will match local rivals United’s treble-winning season in 1999.<\/p>\n
Asked if United fans had reason to fear City matching their achievement, Guardiola joked: “They don’t have to be scared, we are neighbours, neighbours are always nice to each other.<\/p>\n
“I said yesterday we are far away from the treble and this discussion for a funny moment is OK.”<\/p>\n
City next host Arsenal in a top-of-the-table league clash on Wednesday, in which they can seize control of the title.<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)<\/p>\n
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