'We came here with flip flops!' - Pep Guardiola sees Man City comeback win at Bournemouth as evidence of turnaround as he admits he needed to 'recover the soul and passion' of Erling Haaland & Co in disastrous season

City overcame a dismal first half in which Erling Haaland missed a penalty to win 2-1 and reach the FA Cup semi-finals for a record-extending seventh year in a row. The performance was in great contrast to City's defeat at the Vitality Stadium by the same scoreline back in November and the coach admitted that his side's attitude has been lacking for large parts of the season.

"Comparing the game we played in November, we came here with flipflops, we came for the holiday against a team that competes," Guardiola said. "Today, we were a team and challenged. In football, you have to run. It's not tactics - they're important but what we missed this season was heart and soul and the desire that we have always done for many years. This for me as a manager is the most important thing to recover. Recover the soul, this passion."

Substitutes Nico O'Reilly and Omar Marmoush helped City turn the game around but the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan played their part in a hugely dominant second-half performance.

Guardiola added: "The legendary players made a step up again and made an excellent performance. I'm really pleased to go back to Wembley again for the seventh time in a row. it is an incredible achievement."

Haaland hobbled off in the second half with a foot injury, being replaced by Marmoush. Guardiola could not give any update on the severity of the injury, however.

With another FA Cup semi-final to look forward to, City can now focus on their bid to finish in the Premier League's top four to ensure they be back in the Champions League next season. Guardiola's side host struggling Leicester City on Wednesday and then visit arch rivals Manchester United the following Sunday.