Pep Guardiola gave his thoughts on a 1-0 win for Man City against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
The Cityzens have claimed their second FA Cup title in the last four years, scaling the hurdle they stumbled over against Crystal Palace and Manchester United during the previous two seasons. They have also earned a domestic double across both cup competitions after a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup final back in March, bringing some gloss to the campaign regardless of what happens in the league.
‘We'll see if we extend the hope until the last game’
The only goal of the game came from Antoine Semenyo, who cleverly backheeled a cutback from Erling Haaland into the net in the second half. The performance was not one for the ages from the team, but they had the quality where the Blues did not, creating memories of successful silverware hunting. The consistency of success for the club has set them apart under Guardiola, who has now won 20 trophies at the Etihad Stadium, and the Spaniard seeks another in the Premier League title.
To achieve that feat, Manchester City are likely to need victories against both Bournemouth, who are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games, and Aston Villa, who will have played their Europa League final against Freiburg. City must channel their classic end-of-season hot form to find six points from those two fixtures, but it is a challenge that Pep is not running away from.
“Five finals in 10 years. Three wins. Lost two. It’s quite decent, I would say. I think half chances against Levi Colwill, Reece James and Moises Caicedo, they are so good and they can create a pattern, and the pockets are really good with Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer is always dangerous.
“We thought that Caicedo would jump a lot to Rodri. The space was behind. To try to find in that position Rayan Cherki. After Jorrel Hato they jump and, in that moment, try to control the attack in behind with Erling or Antoine. Sometimes tactically it works perfect, but we didn’t find it.
“Second half they were better even though we had the first chance with Antoine. They were better. We found a goal. Football is sometimes like this. Normally Antoine has to cross; Erling makes the finish. The impact of Marc Guehi and Antoine in the winter has been incredible. Back four was amazing.
“We found a hole after they changed to four in the back. I didn’t expect them to play five at the back which created a little problem in the positions. When they finished with four and put more players up front, that is when we had more and more control... We played decent but I was surprised a lot.
“I had the feeling that last season against Crystal Palace, even the previous season against United, we were better than today, but football sometimes it happens. Of course, we are really pleased and happy for the guys. To make us alive in the Premier League but with two titles that is nice.
“Only this final I have the regret at the end, of course the happiness is there, but the amount of players who deserved to play who didn’t play. To leave six players out, even now after many years, I have the feeling it is difficult to swallow.
“With no John Stones, all I could say, but in the end it is business. You have to do what you believe.
“We would love to celebrate now but we will celebrate back in Manchester next Monday, I think so, with a parade with the women’s team which won the league. Yeah, celebrate the two trophies and we will see if we can extend the hope until the last game at home against Aston Villa.”