Savinho and Cherki turn on style as City sweep into semi-final

Pep Guardiola cites how his team must grow during the season and with each outing of this campaign Manchester City suggest greater control and composure.

- Jamie Jackson

This manifested in a professional victory that sweeps the former four-in-a-row competition victors into the semifinal.

A sparkling Rayan Cherki scored first for City before the break, then Savinho followed, his 67th-minute finish only a second struck by the inconsistent 21-year-old this season.

Guardiola apologised for stating Saturday’s Premier League visit of West Ham is the priority, then oversaw a suffocation of Brentford.

When Phil Foden - himself an early replacement - was substituted on 82 minutes Charlie Gray enjoyed a priceless moment: before the 19-year-old came on he was given a Guardiola bearhug to mark his debut. He took up an advanced midfield zone and was soon easily linking play: it was this kind of night from start to finish for the home side.

A City featuring only Nico Gonzalez, Nico O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders and Cherki from Sunday’s win at Crystal Palace fired salvos from Cherki and Oscar Bobb before calamity struck the latter.