Pep Guardiola asked his Manchester City side for the same level of intensity in the second half of their Carabao Cup semi-final win over Manchester United to book their place in a fourth successive final.
City and United had exchanged blows in the opening 45 minutes, with both sides having goals ruled out for offside and both goalkeepers making superb saves. The sides went in level at the break, and it was City who imposed themselves in the second half with two set piece goals to book their place in April's Wembley final.
Speaking after the game, goalscorer John Stones said there were no tactical tweaks from Guardiola at the interval, despite a more restrained second half performance.
He told Sky Sports: "[He said] same again, same mentality, same pressing, same everything.
"The first half hour we set the tone. How we played against such a good side at home, they caused us problems and we dealt with that so well.
"So it was more of the same, more clinical in the final third. Today we had so many chances, great moves into the box and did the job at the end of the day."
On his first goal in three years for City, Stones said the fact that both goals came from set pieces was no coincidence, with Guardiola having worked on set plays in training this week.
He explained: "I was trying to follow the ball in, I couldn't see the line of the ball. They held a high line and we practiced on it in training. Set pieces we know how vital they are in big games, so to get something on it was great."
Stones is flourishing in recent weeks alongside Ruben Dias, and he put his good form down to hard work and making sure he takes his chance.
"I'm just working hard," he said.
"Trying to play as many games as I can, play as well as I can when I'm on the pitch, give everything for the shirt. Staying true to myself, to what I can do and what I can improve on.
"Playing in these big games is something I thrive off, the team thrives off. I'm trying to improve as much as I can and playing well."
