Gabriel Jesus' superbly crafted fourth-minute opener suggested a canter for the reigning Premier League champions but City struggled for their fluent best thereafter.
Nevertheless, they secured a return to England's national stadium – where Raheem Sterling dispatched the decisive penalty to see off Chelsea in an EFL Cup final shoot-out in February – and will remain in London ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Tottenham.
Addressing a news conference immediately after his team's second-half slog, Guardiola suggested he had seen fresh evidence that an unprecedented clean sweep of major honours will prove a bridge too far.
"I will announce you something - it is almost impossible to win the quadruple, almost," he said. "Put it in the headlines, guys.
"Surviving until this stage of the competitions is already a miracle, that is why it is incredible what these players have done."
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