Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said it took defender John Stones a lot longer than expected to rediscover his best form but he praised the Englishman’s perseverance after their 2-0 League Cup win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Centre back Stones has struggled with injuries and poor form in recent campaigns but has found his rhythm this season forging a strong partnership with Portuguese defender Ruben Dias.

Stones opened the scoring in the second half against United — his first goal in three years for the club — before Brazilian Fernandinho added another to send holders City into the League Cup final for the fourth straight year.

“All credit for him (Stones). In a long career, you always have ups and downs. Unfortunately, he struggled longer than we expected and he expected — but his comeback is absolutely down to him,” Guardiola said.

“He made another outstanding performance. But the most important thing he has been able to do — something he has struggled with the past three or four years - is play four, five, six games in a row. This is so important.”

Stones, who faced questions about his future at the club last season, said his resurgence was down to hard work.

“I’m trying to play as many games as I can... give everything for the shirt. Staying true to myself, to what I can do and what I can improve on,” Stones told Sky Sports.

“Playing in these big games is something I thrive off, the team thrives off. I’m trying to improve as much as I can.”

In a frantic opening to the game, both teams had efforts ruled out for offside with Stones turning the ball into his own net but being saved by the flag and Ilkay Gundogan converting a low ball in from Phil Foden but, again, the attempt was rightly ruled out.

Kevin de Bruyne struck the post with a thundering drive from outside the box before Foden also put the ball in the net for City but the visitors were foiled by offside once again.

United have now lost at the semi-final stage in their last four Cup campaigns, leaving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still searching for his first final since taking over at the club. “We’re getting closer. This is a much better version of United than a year ago in those semis,” said the Norwegian.

“It’s not psychological, sometimes you meet good teams in the semis. City are probably the best team in England at the moment,” he added.

City entered the field in number eight shirts in tribute to former player Colin Bell who died on Tuesday and Guardiola said they had honoured his memory.

“It’s for Colin Bell and his family. He helped to build something special for this club. It’s an incredible victory for us,” he said.

Ole’s trophy drought

Solskjaer will find himself under pressure unless he delivers a trophy, former United defender Gary Neville said.

Neville believes a coach who has already faced plenty of criticism throughout his reign needs to start hitting targets, as rivals Juergen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have done, in order to remain in his current post long-term.

He told Sky Sports: “I said before that I felt there was more expectation on this game than there will be against Liverpool at Anfield.

“No one this season expected United to challenge for the league title, but I think there was a feeling: win a trophy. Ole, at the end of this season, will have been there two-and-a-half years, and to go two-and-a-half years without a trophy, it will start to bring pressure.

“Klopp needed a trophy and eventually got the Champions League. Pep Guardiola won the League Cup, Jose Mourinho at various clubs has won the League Cup just to get them going.”

City meet Tottenham Hotspur in the final at Wembley on April 25.