Man City aim for FA Cup quarter-finals against resilient Plymouth | OneFootball

Manchester City have a rare opportunity to win silverware in what has been a turbulent season.

Sitting well behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, the FA Cup offers a realistic chance for success. However, their path is not straightforward.

Fifth-round opponents Plymouth Argyle have already shown their ability to cause upsets.

The Championship side stunned Brentford and then knocked out Premier League leaders Liverpool. Pep Guardiola knows his team cannot afford to be complacent.

“When you can beat the best team in the country this season – Liverpool – and also Brentford, they are not unknown,” he said.

“They defend aggressively, they transition well, and they are solid on set pieces. If you are not ready, you are in trouble.”

City’s FA Cup record under Guardiola has been strong, reaching at least the semi-finals in seven of the last eight seasons. However, they have only lifted the trophy twice in that time.

With Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all eliminated, the path is clearer. The challenge now is to prove their dominance where it matters.

Erling Braut Haaland’s return has provided a major boost. His goal against Tottenham on Wednesday secured a crucial league win, but the Norwegian will be eager to make an impact in the cup.

Man City have already faced two lower-league opponents in this competition, thrashing Salford City before edging past Leyton Orient.

Plymouth are a different test. They are battling relegation in the Championship but have hit form under new boss Miron Muslic.

Since their shock win over Liverpool, they have fought hard in the league, picking up points in crucial matches.

The spirit they showed to come from behind against Cardiff City last weekend highlights their resilience.

Guardiola is under no illusions about the threat they pose. “What these teams do, they do really well,” he added.

“We have played many times against lower-league teams in the League Cup and FA Cup, and always they are tricky. We have a chance to reach the last eight, and we want to do it.”

City will be expected to dominate, but recent performances have shown they cannot take control for granted.

The second half against Tottenham was a reminder of how fragile leads can be. Against a Plymouth side with nothing to lose, any lapse in focus could be costly.

Muslic has described facing Guardiola as the biggest honour of his career. City must ensure it does not become one of his greatest victories.