by Pep Guardiola hopes that his Manchester City team will be able to erase the memory of one of the low points of their season by making the story of FA Cup this weekend.
City bids to reach the semi-finals of the competition for a seventh consecutive season to the record extent as they go to Bournemouth in the last eight Sunday.
Their last visit to Vitality Stadium was the one to forget when they collapsed in their first defeat in the Premier League of the campaign in November.
The director of the city Guardiola believes that it was at this point that the rot settled in his disappointing season, the team that lost seven and only won one of his next 11 games.
“It was the first match where we were a bit far from the standards necessary to be competitive,” said Guardiola.
“I could not reverse the symptoms that this game began, in terms of pressing and aggressive and duels and these aspects.
“We were magnificent in these terms, but it was a minimum that we did not have. I have been trying for several months (since). We have technology but sometimes it takes time.”
The defense of the title of City was sinking during this sequence at the end of 2024 and its challenge of the Champions League since its abrupt judgment, the FA Cup has taken on an additional importance.
Guardiola is proud of his cup record after winning the competition twice, was a finalist defeated last year and reached the last four of his previous eight seasons.
He said: “We reached the record last season – six times in a row in the semi -finals, and most of the time, we were playing in poor condition after the Champions League (matches).
“It was difficult to manage this, so getting there shows how important this competition is.
“It’s so nice, the FA Cup, that’s why we take it seriously, as in the past with the Carabao Cup, winning four times in a row.
“With the season we had, to return to Wembley to play the semi-final and reach the final would be good.”
The goalkeeper Ederson is back in the running for City after missing his last match against Brighton with an abdominal problem.
