Manchester City on track for quadruple crowns

Manchester City’s quest for a quadruple is still on but Manchester United have only one chance for silverware.

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates his team's second goal which rebounded off Kristoffer Nordfeldt of Swansea City for an own goal. Picture: Getty Images

Manchester City’s quest for a quadruple is still on but Manchester United appear to have only one remaining chance for silverware after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On a contrasting Saturday for the two Manchester giants, City came from two goals down to defeat second-tier Swansea City 3-2 in the quarter-final while United went down 2-1 at Wolves.

Watford also reached the semis after substitute Andre Gray scored two minutes after coming off the bench to secure a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Wolves held on to win a game it dominated but Swansea couldn’t protect a 2-0 lead against a City side that benefited from two refereeing errors. City were incorrectly awarded a penalty that led to the equaliser before Sergio Aguero scored the winner from an off-side position to end Swansea’s hopes of a massive upset.

“If it’s not a penalty, I’m sorry. If it’s offside, I’m sorry,” City manager Pep Guardiola, who added he had not seen replays of either incident, said. “Why is VAR not here? That’s the question for the authorities.” Adding to City’s good fortune was the fact the equaliser had only gone in after Aguero’s penalty bounced of the post and in off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt. It all kept City on track for a possible four titles. City have already won the League Cup, lead the way in the Premier League and are into the Champions League quarter-finals.

“The most incredible thing after what we achieved last season is in this stage we are fighting for everything,” Guardiola said.

United had knocked out Arsenal and Chelsea in the previous two rounds but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has only the Champions League left as a trophy target, although his team has to get past Barcelona in the last eight. Solskjaer said Manchester United got what they deserved as Molineux bore witness to a famous night as manager Nuno Espirito Santo led the club to the final four for the first time in 21 years.

“It was a big step backwards, I’ve got to say,” Solskjaer said. “That’s the poorest performance since I’ve come here. The lack of urgency forward, lack of forward passing, lack of regains.”

We felt too comfortable in possession and we never put their keeper under pressure or their defenders under pressure.”

But Solskjaer delivered a positive message to fans.

“We’re in a great position in the league, we’ve got the Champions League,” he said.

“You can’t sulk for too long. We’ve got so much to play for. Man United in April and May always find their form. We can’t wait for the challenge when Barcelona come.”

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted.

“It means a lot of course. The FA Cup is the oldest competition and we played well,” he said.

“We achieved it with the amazing support of our fans believing in us and the noise was fantastic.

“When we achieved it, we achieved it together. Now we have to prepare for the next one.”

Agencies