Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the FA Cup trophyplaceholder image
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the FA Cup trophy
City completed a cup double after a superb late goal from Antoine Semenyo gave them a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola said there was no time to celebrate – not even one beer – after Manchester City’s FA Cup final victory on Saturday.
City completed a cup double after a superb late goal from Antoine Semenyo gave them a 1-0 win over Chelsea in an underwhelming contest at Wembley.
It was City’s second trophy in two months after their Carabao Cup triumph in March but, with the Premier League title still at stake, Guardiola wanted his players straight back to work.
After a difficult journey to London, City travel again on Tuesday, to Bournemouth, for a game they must win to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal.
“Home – not even one beer,” said the City manager. “Next Monday, after Aston Villa, we’re going to celebrate with the women’s team with a parade in Manchester, but no, we do not have time now.
“Chelsea had seven days to prepare for the final, we had three days and yesterday was a nightmare.
“We spent literally six hours getting from Manchester to here. The trains are a little bit of a problem in this country. Six hours!”
Semenyo settled the contest with a clever backheel after 72 minutes.
Manchester City players celebrate with the FA Cup trophy
City add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they won earlier in the season (Mike Egerton/PA)
It was the Ghana international’s 10th goal since joining City from Bournemouth in a £65million deal in January.
Guardiola said: “It was a really good goal, really good skills, really good technique.
“He has a sense of goal. He did it at Bournemouth. The impact of both him and Marc (Guehi) since wintertime has been massive.
“Normally he has to cross to Erling (Haaland) but Erling crossed to him and it was really good finishing.”
Semenyo was pleased with his finish and is relishing life at City.
Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo celebrates his FA Cup goal
Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal at Wembley (Mike Egerton/PA)
The 26-year-old told the BBC: “It has happened a couple of times in training – it happened perfectly today.
“Everything happened so fast to be honest. It came straight to me and I had to improvise as quickly as I can.
“It is a good finish, I can’t lie. I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me. Hopefully, we can finish the job off.”
Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane felt his side should have had a penalty.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez (left) and interim manager Calum McFarlane stand dejected
It was Wembley disappointment for interim manager Calum McFarlane and his players (John Walton/PA)
McFarlane said: “I thought it was an evenly matched game. Both teams had moments of control and momentum at different times.
“I have a lot of respect for Manchester City and what they have done over their last period of success. So congratulations to them, although it was disappointing for us.
“On the penalty incidents, they are tough calls but for me the Jorrel Hato-(Abdukodir) Khusanov collision is a penalty. Jorrel gets in front and there is contact.
“If that’s anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul. Sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t.”
McFarlane admitted Chelsea were beaten by a brilliant goal.
“For me it is a one in 100 goal,” he said. “There is not much more we could have done in that moment to defend better.”
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