Pep Guardiola insists winning the FA Cup again would be just as special for Manchester City as it would for Crystal Palace to claim it for the first time.
City take on Palace at Wembley today (4.30pm) looking to win the competition for the third time under Guardiola. It would also be a 19th trophy success since the Spaniard took over as manager in 2016.
There is a feeling, however, that the cup is a mere consolation prize for City – who are appearing in their third successive final – after frustration in the Premier League and Champions League.
Palace, on the other hand, are bidding to secure the first major silverware in their history and victory would earn their players a place in club folklore.
Guardiola said: "I have an incredible enthusiasm to win.
"I don't know about (Palace manager) Oliver (Glasner) or the Crystal Palace players and fans. Of course when you have never won, that is special, but I prefer to travel to London to play the FA Cup final than not play it, that’s for sure.
"It’s not just three finals in a row, it’s seven semi-finals in a row in the FA Cup. That is a huge achievement, maybe better than lifting a trophy.
"But at the same time, it’s not enough. We are there to climb the stairs and to lift the trophy. That’s why we go there."
Kevin De Bruyne could lift the trophy for City in what would be one of his final appearances of the club.
The Belgium playmaker, who took over as captain after Kyle Walker joined AC Milan in January, is leaving in the summer after a glorious decade at the Etihad Stadium.
The 33-year-old has helped City win 16 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Guardiola said: "Of course, Kevin wants to do it for us, for the team and we want to do it for him.
"To win you have to perform, you have to behave, you have to do something, but it would be nice."
Whatever the outcome at Wembley, City will have little time to reflect as they immediately turn focus back to their quest to secure a top-five spot in the Premier League.
City are back in action as they host Bournemouth on Tuesday – a match Guardiola believes should have been scheduled later in the week.
He said: "I would prefer to play Wednesday, definitely, but I have been nine years fighting against these situations every single season. And nothing – that is the deal.
"We’re going to play Tuesday night against one of the more intense, physical, direct and powerful teams in the Premier League, who are playing to qualify for Europe. We have to deal with that.
"Tottenham play on Friday because of the Europa League final. This is a good decision. This is what you should do."
> "I feel this year no player has come to me and even wanted to speak about his personal future, and the same is for myself" - Glasner
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner insists it would be inappropriate to discuss his long-term plans before the Eagles face Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The Austrian – who replaced Roy Hodgson last February – is under contract at Selhurst Park until the end of next season, but has been persistently linked to both RB Leipzig and Tottenham.
A number of Palace's top players have also been the subject of possible summer moves, but their boss feels any transfer talk – including speculation around his own situation – would pull focus from the significant test that awaits his side at Wembley, where they will fight for their first major title.
"What I expect from the players is the same as what I expect from myself," said Glasner. "I didn’t even think about my personal future, because it’s the wrong time to think about (it).
"It’s the same, I didn’t talk to any single player, because it’s not the time to talk about it. If you start to talk about it, then you get distracted.
"We need 100% focus, 100% energy, 100% togetherness to win this title. Otherwise, it’s not possible.
"And to be honest, I feel this year no player has come to me and even wanted to speak about his personal future, and the same is for myself. I never talked about it because it’s not the time right now.
"So let’s play this game, then we have two more games in the league, and then I switch off my phone."
This will be Palace’s third trip to an FA Cup final, having lost to Manchester United on both previous occasions.
The Eagles’ campaign arc has seen them go from a club joint-worst Premier League start – eight matches without a win – to finding themselves 90 minutes from making history in the FA Cup.
One more point would also set a new club record of 50 in the top flight after equalling their best of 49 with Sunday’s victory over Tottenham.
Despite the gravitas of the occasion, Glasner largely tried keeping the mood light in his pre-match press conference, joking when asked if the final could mark the "beginning" of something: "It definitely won’t be the end, because we play Tuesday night against Wolves.
"Two more games to play, hopefully after a huge celebration on Saturday evening."
Captain Marc Guehi (above) was also quizzed about his future at the club on Friday, saying: "My only focus is this game. My only focus is the fact that I am under contract at Palace. So as far as I am concerned, I am a Palace player."
What happens to Glasner’s influential core after this season, or perhaps even the manager himself, remains up in the air.
"It happened last year with one or two players (leaving) and it could be again," admitted Glasner.
"But I really trust the chairman and the owners in the club that we won’t sell eight or nine players and start two levels lower.
"I’m really convinced that also every single player sees the development of the club, sees the development of the team, and wants to be part of a big development.
"And then let’s see, because again, it’s football. The transfer window will open, and a few transfers will be executed."