Guardiola: Man City's season a success with or without Premier League title

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's season has been successful regardless of whether or not they win the Premier League title, though defeating Chelsea to lift the FA Cup would underline their positive campaign.

City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday at Wembley Stadium, looking to win a second trophy of the campaign after defeating Arsenal in the EFL Cup showpiece.

City are the first team to ever reach four FA Cup finals in a row, though they have lost each of their last two showpiece matches in the competition – against Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace last year. Only Chelsea, from 2020 to 2022, have ever lost the FA Cup final in three consecutive campaigns.

City could become the sixth side to win both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup in the same season, after Arsenal in 1992-93, Liverpool in both 2000-01 and 2021-22, Chelsea in 2006-07 and the Citizens themselves in 2018-19.

They could still make it a domestic treble, too, although that would require another twist at the top of the Premier League, as Arsenal will secure the crown if they win their final two games against Burnley and Palace.

When asked if claiming the two domestic cups would make 2025-26 a campaign to remember, Guardiola said: "The value of the season depends on the trophies you lift.

"Sometimes you lift trophies and the season is successful. Sometimes you lift them, and the season is still really, really bad.

"I said a few weeks ago, this season has been really good, really very good."

City's preparations for the cup final have been disrupted by the fact that they faced Palace on Wednesday, whereas Chelsea have not been in action for seven days. 

"I would prefer seven days, like Chelsea, but when you reach the final of the Carabao Cup, and you win trophies, you have fewer days," Guardiola said. 

"It has happened in the past when we won titles. It's necessary to remember, it is what it is. 

"It is not ideal, but we have done it in the past, and we have to do it tomorrow, because the big clubs are defined where you are in more difficult circumstances and have to do extra.

"That is what you have to do. It is simple. It is not the perfect scenario to prepare for the final because we have not trained since the last game versus Crystal Palace."

Chelsea's current 13-game winless run against City, in all competitions, is their worst against any opponent since going 17 without a victory against Arsenal between January 1999 and March 2004.

If they are to end that miserable streak, then former City academy graduate Cole Palmer could be key.

And when it was put to interim Blues boss Calum McFarlane that Palmer had not been at his best level this season, he leapt to the defence of the England international.

"I haven't said he's not at his top level. You're suggesting that – I'm not suggesting that," McFarlane said. 

"I think he's had some really good games for us this year. He's had a lot of injuries to deal with. 

"I was really pleased with Cole last Saturday [in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool]. I thought he had moments where he showed his level and his quality. 

"I'm really hopeful he can produce that from now until the end of the season. He's a top player, and he's proved that many times."