Guardiola Claims Manchester City Season is Positive Even Without Silverware

Manchester Citys squad is pausing their push to overtake Premier League frontrunners Arsenal to journey to Wembley for a fourth straight FA Cup final outing.

The team begins each campaign prioritising the Premier League and Champions League yet they might miss both goals this year.

Eliminated in the Champions League round of sixteen by Real Madrid during March City would trail Arsenal by five points should the Gunners defeat relegated Burnley in their home fixture on Monday.

Guardiolas players could narrow the deficit to two points by beating Bournemouth in their second last game of the season on Tuesday.

Still Arsenal could clinch their first English crown since 2004 with a win at Crystal Palace on May 24.

After securing the League Cup against Arsenal City now eye a domestic double this weekend.

Nevertheless Guardiola firmly believes the year has gone well regardless of outcomes at Wembley or in the league chase.

"It depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you lift trophies and the season has been successful," Guardiola stated adding only "we'll see" regarding Rodris fitness to open in midfield.

"Sometimes, you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad.

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

'Do better'

Following the inclusion of Erling Haaland Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku on the substitutes bench for Wednesdays victory over Crystal Palace Guardiola plans to deploy his strongest lineup against Chelsea rather than focusing solely on the title pursuit.

"It is the final of the FA Cup. The message is there are two prestigious clubs at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Our fans make an incredible effort to come down to London. It is not cheap," he remarked.

"We try to perform as much as possible to win. It is always the game-plan."

Manchester City have dropped the previous two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United after triumphing over United in the 2023 event.

"There's excitement, of course. I hope we can do better than the last two times," Guardiola commented.

"Wembley is still a special place. Everything is so nice. The pitch is extraordinary. We are desperate to perform well."

Before his 24th visit to Wembley with City Guardiola quipped that he feels "so disappointed" for lacking a named stand at Englands football headquarters.

"So many times I have been there, at least a lounge or a box or something like that. Maybe I have to go 24 more times!" he added.

With one year remaining on his Manchester City deal Guardiola has not yet agreed to an extension despite rumours he might conclude his ten year stint at the Etihad after this season.

When questioned about claims that fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor plan to depart the club Guardiola replied with a grin: "I extended the contract with them three more years," then clarified: "Nope."