03/03/2025

MONDAY | MAR 3, 2025

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Man City’s Nico O’Reilly (left) celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates during the English FA Cup fifth round match against Plymouth

Argyle at the Etihad Stadium yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

No love lost e t

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Story on page 28 Ain’t that a kick in the head

Teen saves City

Academy player O’Reilly spares Guardiola from FA Cup humbling by Plymouth

- Story on page 29

F OR eight minutes, it threatened to be perhaps the most ignominious day of a managerial career that has produced three Champions Leagues, 12 domestic League titles and a couple of FA Cups. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were losing at home to Plymouth Argyle: the conquerors of Liverpool, admittedly, but the side with the worst defensive record in the country, a team with no away wins in the Championship but, improbable as it appeared, a lead at the Etihad Stadium. If an improbable script reflected the FA Cup’s enduring ability to surprise, it was also a reflection of the modern Manchester City; more frail and fragile. Even victory brought a hint of the unlikely. City’s rescuer was not Erling Haaland, sent on after an hour, but Nico O’Reilly, a teenage Mancunian who started the night with one senior goal and trebled his tally. “Two goals, I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. Playing out of position, he cast Plymouth’s giantkillers out of the FA Cup. Thankfully for City, the makeshift left-back inherited the

“I didn’t take anything for granted when I saw how well they defended and the problems they created for Liverpool. They are an incredibly solid team. “We created a lot and conceded little – the basics we have done for many years. We are happy to reach the quarterfinals and we are happy with the way we played. “How many times in the last few years have we reached the semifinals? When you arrive six times in a row to the semifinals, it is because the FA Cup is important. “When you play in this competition and you behave like the way we behave, I’m so proud – I love it. It shows how honest we are – and I like that. “We are one game away from Wembley and we’ll see what happens.” On teen goalscorer O’Reilly’s performance, Guardiola added: “He is not a typical academy player. He is a physical presence. He is a No. 10, I would say. “He can play in a few positions and he is a threat from set-pieces because he is strong. I’m really pleased for him because he helped us a lot.” – The Independemt/ Agencies

illustrious list of victims.

rested Josko Gvardiol’s habit of scoring vital goals. It was also a case of salvation by set-pieces. O’Reilly headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s freekick on the stroke of halftime and Phil Foden’s corner with a quarter of an hour remaining. The possession statistics and shot counts suggested City dominated the game but they had too little creativity. Their lone goal in open play came late, De Bruyne sliding in to convert Haaland’s cross. It had an especial cruelty for the outstanding Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who had just made his fifth terrific save of the night, and a second from Haaland. But Plymouth provided a twist on a familiar theme. They are used to seeing a giant with long blond hair score at the Etihad. This time it was not Haaland, however, even if his cameo brought an impact, but Maksym Talovierov, Plymouth’s club-record signing. Talovierov delivered them something to celebrate and a shock scoreline, albeit temporarily, as, less than two months into his reign in Devon, Miron Muslic threatened to add Guardiola to Arne Slot on an

“We can only be disappointed with the result, but very proud of our performance,” Muslic told BBC Radio Devon . His players ended with some notable mementoes, swapping shirts with Haaland, Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish. Argyle have earnt a seven-figure sum from their cup run. They have also gained admirers and bolstered spirits. “I think we had an excellent game plan and the lads just executed this game plan, with the structure and the organisation you need to survive here and get out of this game,” Muslic said. “But also especially the passion and the heart that’s been with us for the last seven, eight, nine weeks.” For City, their last avenue to winning a trophy this season remains open. But all the noise at the final whistle still belonged to those supporters making the 900km round trip from Devon. “Defensively, they were incredibly well organised,” praised Guardiola. “They didn’t press much and defended a little deeper, but they defended with solidarity.

Real shock

- Story on page 30

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