While City eventually came out on top to book our place in the last four thanks to late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, the Toffees didn’t go down without a fight.
The hosts remained compact and organised throughout, fighting for every ball and looking to frustrate City at every turn under the Goodison Park lights.
But Pep Guardiola’s men were up to the challenge, and persevered with the game plan until we found the breakthrough seven minutes from time.
And the City boss highlighted the importance of complimenting silk with steel for the rest of the season if we are to be successful on both a domestic and European front.
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“When you win 34 games in the last 39 it’s because you have that characteristic,” he reflected in his post-match press conference.
“(Everton) played with intensity, every duel. We knew it and you have to handle this.
“This is the type of game we will play in the semi-finals of the (FA) Cup, against Borussia Dortmund, in the (Carabao Cup) final against Tottenham.
“If you can’t maintain that level, you won’t win those games. There will be more games that way now than the other ones.”
