FA Cup final: Man City season won ‘regardless of trophies’ | Football News

Manchester City will face Chelsea in the FA Cup Final looking to add to their League Cup success and also target the EPL title.

Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City have had a successful season, whether they win the Premier League title or not FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday.

Guardiola’s side have halted their bid to catch Premier League leaders Arsenal as they travel to Wembley for their FA Cup final appearance.

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City start every season with the Premier League and Champions League as their main targets, but have come close to falling short in both.

Knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid in March, City will move five points behind Arsenal if the Gunners beat relegated Burnley at home on Monday.

Guardiola’s men can close that gap to move back to two points with a win at Bournemouth in their final game of the season on Tuesday.

But Arsenal could still secure their first English title since 2004 with a win at Crystal Palace on May 24.

Having already won the League Cup by beating Arsenal, City have the chance to do a double this weekend.

However, Guardiola is confident that the campaign has been a success, regardless of what happens at Wembley or in the competition.

“It depends on the trophies you’ve lifted.” “Sometimes you lift trophies and it’s been a successful season,” said Guardiola, who only offered “we’ll see” when asked if Rodri should start in midfield.

“Sometimes, you lift and the truth is that the weather has been really bad.

“I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good.”

After starting with Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku on the bench for Wednesday’s win against Crystal Palace, Guardiola should field a stronger team against Chelsea instead of prioritizing the battle.

“These are the FA Cup finals. The message is that there are two famous clubs at Wembley in the FA Cup finals. Our fans will try very hard to come to London. It’s cheap,” he said.

“We try to do our best to win. It’s always the game plan.”

City have lost their last FA Cup final against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, who beat them in 2023.

“There is excitement, yes. I believe we can do better than the last two seasons,” said Guardiola.

“Wembley is still a special place. Everything is very good. The performances are amazing. We want to do well.”

Ahead of his 24th visit to Wembley with City, Guardiola joked that he was “disappointed” not to have his name in the home of English football.

He said: “I have often been there, maybe a living room or a box or something like that.

Guardiola has one year left on his City contract and has yet to sign a new deal amid fears he could spend a decade at the Etihad Stadium after the current campaign.

Asked about reports that City of Fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor are on the verge of leaving the club, Guardiola joked: “I extended their contract for three more years,” before saying: “No”.