Pep Guardiola promised Nico O'Reilly an FA Cup semi-final appearance after the Manchester City youngster's superb cameo against Bournemouth.

O'Reilly came off the bench to set up both of City's goals in a 2-1 comeback win in Sunday's quarter-final tie at the Vitality Stadium.

The 20-year-old is the first City player to provide two assists as a substitute since Ilkay Gundogan did so against Leeds United in December 2021.

City, meanwhile, are now in the FA Cup semi-finals for a seventh straight campaign. They will face Nottingham Forest at Wembley in late April.

And O'Reilly will definitely feature.

Guardiola told ITV Sport: "Nico scored two goals against Plymouth and the impact today was outstanding.

"He's going to play in the semi-final for sure!"

O'Reilly has been directly involved in five goals in four FA Cup appearances this season (three goals, two assists), the joint-most by a Premier League player in the competition in 2024-25, level with Ipswich Town's Jack Clarke.

"My instructions were to get involved as much as I can," O'Reilly told BBC Sport. "It was good to get the contributions with the two assists – I was buzzing.

"I'm grateful for the opportunities I get from the manager and playing with the best players that are out there."

Ahead of the game, Guardiola took the blame for his team's underwhelming season, saying victory in the FA Cup would not make it a good campaign.

However, he was keen to stress that reaching seven successive FA Cup semi-finals is an extraordinary feat.

"We did it. Seven times in a row reaching the semi-finals in the FA Cup," he said.

"I am sorry to tell you, but this is outstanding. This generation of players, they have done this.

"To come here, one of the toughest away places to come."

Guardiola said his team were "on their holidays" when they lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League back in November, but despite Erling Haaland's early penalty miss being followed by Evanilson putting the Cherries in front on Sunday, City were well in control for much of the tie.

They finished with 17 shots and 3.43 expected goals to Bournemouth's five attempts and 1.67 xG, with most of that made up by Evanilson's finish into an empty net.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Guardiola said: "We won one title already. We won the Community Shield.

"This season has been poor, nothing is going to change. It has not been good, that is not going to change.

"Last year we played in a final and could not win it. We have an incredible target to qualify for the Champions League next season and that is what we are going to try to do."

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola claimed the Cherries were not at the races after the break.

"I think the game is quite clear to analyse – the first half was good from us," he told BBC Sport.

"We played the game we needed to play, but we couldn't keep it for the second half.

"Then we have not been the team we wanted to be. The players have started to lack energy."