The obligatory hug. A few words of commiseration. Then Pep Guardiola went back towards Morgan Gibbs-White for something else. Another embrace, a whisper in the ear.
Guardiola appreciates quality and knew Nottingham Forest’s resurgence in this semi-final emanated from a midfielder Manchester City fancy signing this summer.
Stefan Ortega’s woodwork was struck three times after the break, twice by Gibbs-White, who drove Forest on and left the Wembley pitch chuntering about a missed opportunity.
At times this season City’s roof has fallen in but they preserved their advantage here, with some luck, and deservedly so for the way in which they controlled Forest in the early exchanges.
Controlled them with a box midfield that Guardiola insists is not here to stay — probably because Erling Haaland’s attributes are more suited to other formations — but allowed Rico Lewis flourish.
Lewis revealed on City’s tour of America last summer that he wanted to play as a No 8 and Guardiola decided on Saturday afternoon that this semi-final against Forest was the perfect time to try it.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola embraced Morgan Gibbs-White after the final whistle at Wembley
Gibbs-White gave a good impression of himself and showed the qualities he could bring to City
Rico Lewis made an impact in midfield as City secured their place in the FA Cup final
Lewis thrives in big environments and within two minutes was cupping an ear to the crowd after firing City ahead. He, Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic were hyenas out of possession.
‘There are some players who believe I don’t appreciate them and with Rico I give him the hand to show his quality and he proved it,’ Guardiola said. ‘He can play different positions. He has the quality, he moves really well in small spaces. His perfect position is in the pocket. Rico is one of the best I’ve ever seen there.’
Guardiola congratulated Arne Slot on winning the league title at Liverpool but warned City would be back. Confirming a Champions League space is paramount now, with in-form Wolves coming to the Etihad on Friday.
‘We have to be calm and recover because with the state of the (Wembley) grass, the fatigue is always there,’ Guardiola added before being asked if winning this competition and finishing in the top five would constitute a good season. ‘No,’ he replied with emphasis.
‘This season has not been good. We are a thousand-million points behind Liverpool. We were always a machine and we haven’t been good. We have to take the right decisions so next season will be better.’
Signing Gibbs-White would be a good place to start.
