Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Mateo Kovacic, calling him “extraordinary” after City’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final. City secured their spot in the final with goals from Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol, with Kovacic providing the assist for the opening goal in the second minute.
Kovacic’s performance was lauded by Guardiola, who highlighted his exceptional quality and composure on the pitch. Guardiola also commended Lewis for his goal, describing his positioning as “extraordinary.”
Despite Forest hitting the woodwork three times in the second half, City emerged as deserved winners and advanced to their third consecutive FA Cup final.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of Kovacic’s recent performances and the team’s ability to recover ahead of their final against Crystal Palace on May 17.
Reflecting on the match, Guardiola acknowledged Forest’s strength as a team but praised City’s control of the game and their ability to limit Forest’s dangerous transitions.
City now turns their focus to securing Champions League football for next season, with Guardiola highlighting the team’s remarkable achievement of reaching three FA Cup finals in a row.
The manager expressed his excitement for the upcoming challenges in the Premier League and emphasized the need for the team to recover and prepare for their next match against Wolves.