Pep Guardiola: Man City’s Season a Success With or Without Trophies
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| Guardiola brushes off trophy pressure as City eye FA Cup vs Chelsea |
Man City head to Wembley for a fourth straight FA Cup final, with Guardiola saying the team has delivered even if they fall short in the title race.
Ahead of the FA Cup final, Guardiola insists City’s campaign is positive regardless of trophies, as the title race with Arsenal goes to the wire...
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s season counts as a success even if they don’t lift the Premier League or beat Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Guardiola said his focus isn’t on silverware alone, with City heading to Wembley for a fourth straight FA Cup final before resuming their chase of Arsenal in the league.
Winning the Premier League and Champions League is always the goal at the start of each year for City, but both are now slipping away.
After a Champions League last-16 exit to Real Madrid in March, City will trail Arsenal by five points if the Gunners beat already-relegated Burnley on Monday.
A win at Bournemouth on Tuesday in City’s penultimate game would cut Arsenal’s lead back to two points.
Even then, Arsenal could still seal their first Premier League title since 2004 with victory at Crystal Palace on May 24.
City already beat Arsenal to lift the League Cup earlier this season, and they’ve got a shot at a domestic double this weekend.
Still, Guardiola says the campaign has been a success regardless of what happens at Wembley or in the run-in.
“It depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you lift trophies and the season has been successful,” said Guardiola, who would only offer “we'll se” when asked if Rodri would be fit to start in midfield.
“Sometimes, you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad.
"I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good.”
Full strength expected at Wembley
After resting Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku for Wednesday’s win over Crystal Palace, Guardiola is set to go with his strongest lineup against Chelsea rather than hold players back for the title race.
“It is the final of the FA Cup. The message is there are two prestigious clubs at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Our fans make an incredible effort to come down to London. It is not cheap,” he said.
“We try to perform as much as possible to win. It is always the game-plan.”
Pep 💬 (On Wembley) It’s a special place. Semis, finals, win, lose. It’s so good to go to Wembley again.
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 15, 2026
The pitch is extraordinary. Hopefully [it] will be a nice day. [We are] desperate to perform well. pic.twitter.com/pHGLGYsuyK
City have fallen in the last two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United, after beating United to win the trophy in 2023.
“There's excitement, of course. I hope we can do better than the last two times,” Guardiola said.
"Wembley is still a special place. Everything is so nice. The pitch is extraordinary. We are desperate to perform well.”
Before his 24th match at Wembley with City, Guardiola joked he’s “so disappointed” there isn’t a stand named after him at English football’s home ground yet.
“So many times I have been there, at least a lounge or a box or something like that. Maybe I have to go 24 more times!” he said.
Fans across the world can tune in to the #EmiratesFACup Final 🌎
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 15, 2026
Click below to find out where you can watch.
Guardiola has one year remaining on his City deal and hasn’t agreed an extension yet, fueling talk that he might walk away after 10 years at the Etihad once this season wraps up.
When asked about reports that fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor could be leaving, Guardiola grinned and said: “I extended their contracts for three more years.” He then added, “Nope.”
It's almost time for the FA Cup final! ⏳ pic.twitter.com/MXzRs8hlcP
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 15, 2026
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