Pep Guardiola lifted the FA Cup for the third time as Manchester City beat Chelsea at Wembley, with the manager fully taking in the moment after the final whistle
Pep Guardiola celebrates after winning Man City yet another trophy
Pep Guardiola celebrates after winning Man City yet another trophy
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Antoine Semenyo has been one of the signings of the season - and produced one of the great FA Cup goals.
Manchester City winger Semenyo’s sensational back flick secured yet another trophy for Pep Guardiola and his awesome winning machine.
City have already got their hands on both domestic cup competitions after also lifting the Carabao Cup and you can be sure they have not given up on the title just yet.
Semenyo has been such a huge part of their impressive and intimidating push for glory in the second half of the season. The Ghana winger is proving to be a snip at just £62.5m from Bournemouth in January because he has given them a whole new dimension in attack.
It has been Jeremy Doku stealing all the headlines in recent weeks but this final belonged to Semenyo with a man-of-the-match display, outstanding goal and he sparked the celebrations after the final whistle.
After losing the last two FA Cup finals, Guardiola made it third time lucky as he also lifted the trophy for a third time. And you would have to be pretty naive not to notice that Guardiola was taking it all in, getting extra hugs from his players and he even embraced his security guard on the pitch.
Is that goodbye? There remains doubt over Guardiola’s long term future because he has had ten glorious years at the Etihad and even workaholic geniuses need a break sometime.
But Guardiola would also be walking away from something very special because, while this is not a classic all-conquering City side, they are still entertaining and have that winning habit.
This was tough going for them because Chelsea gave them a tough test and, despite having a caretaker Calum McFarlane in charge, they played well and it took something special to beak their resolve.
Guardiola had Antoine Semenyo to thank after his moment of brilliance
Guardiola had Antoine Semenyo to thank after his moment of brilliance
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Chelsea had their moments but it also makes you wonder where they have been hiding for so much of the season. They only turn up when they fancy it.
Semenyo only broke the deadlock after 72 minutes just at a time when the game seemed to be drifting.
But that is when City step up. Erling Haaland still could not break his Wembley curse - he has not scored in this special stadium - but he did the next best thing by providing the assist.
City were the better team overall and deserved it with no-one deserving it more than Bernardo Silva who will definitely be leaving in the summer.
The City fans - the other end had emptied out - serenaded Silva and Guardiola at the trophy lift because this felt like a special moment. No matter how many trophies they have won under Guardiola, they always enjoy the moment.
Bernardo Silva lifted what could be his last trophy as a Man City player
Bernardo Silva lifted what could be his last trophy as a Man City player
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City went for it this time as Guardiola did not just take the handbrake off - he put the City juggernaut into turbo mode. Even by his standards, this was a very attacking 4-2-4 line-up.
Jeremy Doku and Semenyo on the flanks with Haaland and Omar Marmoush through the middle. But Haaland slashed wide and was denied by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea took a long time to get going, but grew into the game and it was pretty level pegging by half time. Guardiola sent for Rayan Cherki for the ineffective Marmoush and City instantly had more about them.
Moises Caicedo had a header cleared off the line at the other end before City really began to exert control. They have a winning mentality which just gets the job done.
After losing the last two finals, City have their hands back on the FA Cup
After losing the last two finals, City have their hands back on the FA Cup
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Cherki found Haaland and his low cross was perfect for Semenyo who produced a wonderful piece of skill to back heel the ball into the far corner.
City saw it out. Chelsea tried but got nowhere. There was a lovely moment when Haaland was screaming for the ball in the box deep into injury time.
But when it eventually came to him, rather than go for goal to end his duck, he turned away to run the clock down. It is all about winning. And City do it best.
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