Manchester City booked their place in a record-breaking fourth FA Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Southampton at Wembley, prompting manager Pep Guardiola to described the achievement as “Really cool.”

City were pushed to the brink by their Championship opponents, who delivered a spirited performance and looked set to cause a major upset deep into the second half.

Southampton thought they had taken the lead earlier in the match, only for their effort to be ruled out for offside.

Undeterred, they continued to threaten and finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute through Finn Azaz, whose sublime finish stunned the Wembley crowd and put the underdogs within touching distance of the final.

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However, City’s response was immediate. Just minutes later, Jeremy Doku cut inside and unleashed a shot that took a decisive deflection, wrong-footing goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and restoring parity.

While the equaliser carried a slice of fortune, there was nothing fortunate about the winner. Midfielder Nico González produced a moment of brilliance, unleashing a thunderous strike from 30 yards that flew into the top corner, sealing City’s place in the final in spectacular fashion.

Guardiola praised his side’s second-half display, highlighting their dominance after the interval. “We played an incredible second half, really, really good. We created a lot of chances,” he said.

The City manager also reserved special praise for match-winner González, describing him as a player with “incredible attributes” who must “believe more in himself.”

He noted the midfielder’s growing importance, particularly during the long-term absence of Rodri, adding: “He has made an incredible step.”

Despite the defeat, Guardiola commended Southampton boss Tonda Eckert, calling his opposite number “exceptional” after his side’s valiant performance.