This will probably not be enough to console them for having already abandoned their Champions League title, but Manchester City has kept alive its dream of still achieving a nice domestic double this season. Pep Guardiola's men, still in the race for the Premier League title, dismissed Chelsea this Saturday afternoon in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley (1-0).
It's a meeting that could have eluded the Citizens for a long time, and which was only decided thanks to a goal in the last ten minutes. Before that, Pep Guardiola's men sweated, facing a Chelsea team which had an almost unexpected opportunity to save a frankly dismal season in the league. Despite inferior possession, obviously, there was no shortage of opportunities for the Blues, notably through an unfortunately clumsy Nicholas Jackson in front of goal (8th, 30th, 49th), and who could have benefited from an even two penalties at the start of the second half.
A remake of last year's final against Manchester United?
Already beaten on the same Wembley pitch in February in the Carabao Cup final by Liverpool, the Blues can undoubtedly harbor some regrets. But in this type of match, the experience of the great collective that is Manchester City took precedence over the passion and energy of the less well-oiled Chelsea team. The Mancuniens did not have a lot of chances but made the ones that counted, while Bernardo Silva was on the lookout to take a cross from De Bruyne on the left, deflected by Petrovic into the Portuguese's feet (1-0, 84th). A beautiful image, when he was one of the Mancunians who missed Wednesday, during the penalty shootout against Real Madrid.
Manchester City will therefore have the opportunity to defend their FA Cup title on May 25, still at Wembley. It will perhaps be, like last season, on the occasion of a Manchester derby, since the second semi-final will pit this Sunday the
United
Red Devils
against Coventry City (English D2), surprising defeaters of Wolverhampton in the round previous.