THE ONLY WAY IS UP

PEP GUARDIOLA refuses to accept that winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League will rescue Manchester City's season.

- SIMON MULLOCK

The four-in-a-row champions are 22 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and failed to get beyond the last 16 in Europe after a dismal run that included a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth.

They head back to the Vitality Stadium today with a semi-final place at Wembley up for grabs - and the chance to extend their record of making it into the last four of the cup for a seventh successive season.

But City boss Guardiola insists that lifting the 19th trophy of his nine-year Etihad reign and booking a place in the Champions League will only be a consolation for what's been a painful campaign.

Guardiola said: "Of course it would be nice to arrive in the final of the FA Cup and win it, and qualify for the Champions League.