“It’s been a long time without playing” – Nico Gonzalez reflects on Manchester City minutes after Wembley winner | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez scored a vital winner in a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win against Southampton at Wembley on Saturday evening.

The 24-year-old has struggled for minutes in recent months as Rodri returned to his best form after foregoing his injury troubles amid Manchester City‘s pursuit of a domestic treble.

City are fighting Arsenal tooth and nail in the Premier League title race and having lifted the Carabao Cup trophy at Wembley in March, the Blues have also entered the FA Cup final after coming from behind to beat Southampton in Saturday’s semi-final.

Jeremy Doku levelled for the Blues after Finn Azaz‘s stunning opener but Gonzalez stole the show with a long-range effort to extend Manchester City’s winning run to six games in all competitions and to set up a fourth FA Cup final date in a row.

It’s been a long time without playing, admits Nico

In a post-match interview with BBC Match of the Day, Gonzalez went on to admit that he had been awaiting an opportunity to start in midfield in place of the injured Rodri, having only made the bench against Burnley in midweek.

The Spain international said: “It’s been a long time without playing and being here, being with this amazing stadium, with this atmosphere – it’s an amazing feeling!”

Manchester City were piling on the pressure on a resilient Saints side after Doku’s equaliser and it took a moment of magic from Gonzalez to break down the EFL Championship side’s resistance.

Gonzalez added: “I was waiting for the chance and I had it, so I gave it everything, I shot with everything and it went in!”

Nico: We didn’t think we’d be in this position

Manchester City have turned around their season with six wins in the last five weeks, piling huge pressure on Arsenal in the title race and going on a perfect run in the domestic cups to keep their hopes of a domestic treble well and truly alive.

“It’s been a really important week, it’s been amazing – three wins and we are alive in the league which was something that maybe one month ago we didn’t think we would arrive here with this chance,” Gonzalez said.

“But it’s amazing to arrive in another final; this is my second season and my second final in the FA Cup and I hope we can win it!”

While Manchester City and Pep Guardiola will be desperately waiting for Rodri to return to full fitness, Gonzalez will be hoping to retain his place in the starting XI in the FA Cup final against whoever between Chelsea and Leeds United win Sunday’s other semi-final.