With the clash with Arsenal only four days away, expect plenty more of the same in the coming days and to kick-off, we have views from both the Blues and the Gunners.
Let’s begin with the Mirror, who carry a story about Gael Clichy and how he believes he and his team-mates can salvage silverware from a season that hasn’t quite hit the heights everyone hopes.
They write: “City face Arsenal in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday and Clichy says the Cup is still a prestigious prize.
‘A team like Manchester City, of course, you expect them to fight for the Champions League, you expect them to be close for the title race,’ said the French defender.
‘But in the end, the FA Cup is a major trophy in England. People love this competition and, of course, we’re going to try hard to get it done.
‘I love football, I love to be on the pitch, I love to train, I’m a hard-working guy and I love this. Of course, playing against Arsenal is something extra. But in the end, the only thing that matters for us is to get through to the final and lift the trophy for the fans.’
The Daily Star follow a similar theme, but from the viewpoint of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, who admits the FA Cup still has that special magic no other competition can replicate.
They write: “The Gunners have won on their last six visits to Wembley, with Ramsey scoring the winner there against Hull in the 2014 final.
“Ramsey said: ‘We’ve had success at Wembley before, so hopefully we can have more. Personally, I love playing at Wembley.
‘It’s the same build-up throughout the week but as soon as you get on the team bus to the hotel, it feels different.
‘When you head towards Wembley and you look through your window to see the stadium, the build-up changes at that point.
‘It’s spine-tingling, exciting and you can’t wait to get out there and perform. I love the competition.
‘I scored against City in the Community Shield a couple of years ago and in the FA Cup final of course, and we have had a bit of success there.
‘Hopefully we can continue that. We haven’t had this line-up in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for a long time so it’s going to be very tough from here.
‘If you want to win it, you have got to beat everyone in front of you. The FA Cup is fantastic with plenty of great stories to be told from down the years.
‘These semi-final ties look like they will be added to the history. They are mouth-watering for the neutral. We want to remember them for the right reasons.’
Finally, he may be feeling a little flat this morning after Barcelona’s Champions League exit, but Brazilian superstar Neymar is tipping City’s Gabriel Jesus to follow in his glittering footsteps.
The Daily Star report: “Jesus, who burst onto the scene for City earlier this season for four games before breaking a bone in his foot, has already taken over striking duties for Brazil.
“And fellow countryman Neymar reckons the 20-year-old is one of the most promising attackers of his generation.
“Asked who heads the list of the “new Neymars,” Neymar told Esporte Interativo: ‘Of the new generation, I like [Antoine] Griezmann very much, but I have a great affection for Gabriel Jesus
‘I love him for how he plays and because we play together in the Selecao and we did at the Rio Olympic Games.’
High praise, indeed.
More media gossip and speculation tomorrow…
