Pep calls for playing FA Cup AWAY from Wembley as City fail to sell much tickets

Some FA Cup semi-finals should be switched to northern England, according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side have failed to sell thousands of tickets for Sunday's FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

For City, it is the seventh consecutive time they have reached this stage of the competition and Guardiola feels the cumulative cost of travelling to London and match tickets - which range from £45 to £150 - is the reason they’ve not sold their allocation of 34,000 and will be outnumbered by Forest fans on Sunday afternoon.

‘One day in the FA Cup, maybe we can play these games in the north and teams can come to Old Trafford or the Etihad, or Anfield or Everton,’ said Guardiola.

‘All around the world people are suffering economically and I realise it’s not easy for them. I understand it. We would love it if they could be there and we will play for the ones who come to Wembley, and the ones who would like to but cannot.

‘I am pretty sure they would all love to be there, it’s just not possible for them. I am close enough to them to understand that perfectly.

‘It is difficult because of the travel, the people who have to be at work on Monday and maybe will arrive back late on Sunday, the prices, the tickets.’

Forest have been offered extra tickets to fill the stadium and Guardiola is prepared for the challenge of what might feel like an away game as he bids to reach a third consecutive FA Cup final.

‘We have to do it with or without them (City fans),’ he said.

The FA Cup remains City’s last chance of silverware this season. They have met Manchester United in the last two finals, beating them in 2023 to win the Treble, but lost out last year to Erik ten Hag’s team.

Meanwhile, Guardiola considers ending Kevin De Bruyne’s Manchester City career as one of the toughest moments in his managerial career. De Bruyne, widely regarded as the greatest player in City’s history, admitted feeling shocked by not being offered a new contract and could join a Premier League rival for next season. The 33-year-old said: ‘I still think I can perform at this level.’

Ahead of Sunday's semi-final, Guardiola addressed the situation for the first time. ‘The feeling he has, I understand it completely,’ said Guardiola.

‘He has behaved unbelievably all these years and it will happen until the end. He has trained really good. It is one of the hardest parts of my job, by far. I lived a lot of things with these players. Good moments, terrible moments. I could make a long list over the nine years, Sergio (Aguero), David Silva.

‘They are part of my life. It is impossible you don’t feel it — it can’t be otherwise. Of course, it is so difficult.’

Captaining City to the FA Cup would be the perfect farewell for the Belgian.