The Blues booked our place in the fifth round of the competition with a hard-fought success over the Ammies at the Etihad Stadium.
An own goal from the visitors’ Alfie Dorrington after sixth minutes gave the hosts a strong start, but it took until the 85th for City to find a second when substitute Marc Guéhi poked home from close range.
Despite the four divisions separating the teams, it was a closely fought cup tie at the Etihad – and Guardiola says his side didn’t read the game situations quick enough to hurt our opponent.
“After 2-0 [was better]. We didn’t read the spaces where they were. Always the spaces we attack depends on where the defend and we didn’t read it.
“We have to spend a lot of time to make the process quicker and better. The only good news is we go through.
“Would be nice to say that mentally we’re exhausted but this is our job and we have to do what we have to do.
“We didn’t read the spaces, that’s why everything was flat and slow and it was not good.”
City’s FA Cup tie with Salford was our 14th outing since the turn of the year as we continue to fight on four fronts in 2025/26.
Although Guardiola admitted it’s been mentally and physically taxing period for his side, the Catalan believes fatigue wasn’t the cause of the Blues flat display against the Ammies.
He added: “It has been tough but not just this two weeks, since November it’s been every three days and that’s a lot.
“I know what they want it but we didn’t read what we should do and that sometimes happens. I know how to defined my players.
“Maybe we didn’t transmit what we should do. Max Alleyne cannot drop them, Rayan on the left is better.
“It’s not the point, when they are on the left and tight, we have to move the ball quick to the opposite side and we didn’t do it. That’s why it was boring.”
