What Pep Guardiola did at full time showed what he made of Man City statement

Pep Guardiola can't have enjoyed many days in this most forgettable of Manchester City seasons, so when the chance came to celebrate in the sunshine he was determined to take it.

Guardiola celebrated enthusiastically in front of City's superb travelling support, joking with his players and wrapping them in hugs before orchestrating the singing.

He saved the biggest embrace for last with Nico O'Reilly, the man of the moment as the 20-year-old helped to turn the game around after the break. Guardiola left the pitch to the sound of his own name being sung, punching the air back towards the supporters.

This felt like a big day in City's season. Not only did it secure another Wembley appearance and an FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest, but he showed they can take prosper against "modern football".

They did so by changing approach at half-time and upping the intensity. It turned this fixture into a classic game of two halves and City's second half display was up there with the best they have produced this season. It didn't look like it was coming at the break.

Guardiola wanted width from his full-backs but got very little threat from them in the first half. Matheus Nunes' radar was off and Josko Gvardiol struggled to get forward down the left.

One Nunes cross did find Erling Haaland, but other than that there was little danger out wide from City, when it was clearly an area they wanted to exploit. Enter cup specialist O'Reilly.

He made two surging runs down the left in the first five minutes of the second half and the second created the equaliser for Haaland. It was classic modern full-back play and showed City are capable of fighting fire with fire.

Earlier this season Guardiola had listed Bournemouth as one of the