Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City: What Guardiola saidpublished at 18:08 BST
18:08 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking on BBC iPlayer after winning his 20th major trophy with the club: "The moment the fire decreases, then we will go home. I am a funny guy.
"This year, I have been really good. Last season was the toughest season for many reasons.
"This season, it is every day how we behave. Maybe we took time to find some stability with the team. In the Premier League, it doesn't wait."
On celebrating the cup win: "Not even one [celebration]. You know Bournemouth (away on Tuesday). That will be even tougher. Try to go there and get a results."
On Bernardo Silva and John Stones, who are both leaving at the end of the season: "The impact of these two guys. Johnny was one of my first signings. I travelled to London to meet him.
"They will be missed so much. Incredible footballers, but we created many many good years. You have to be exceptional players and exceptional persons."
'It's really overwhelming' - Stonespublished at 17:55 BST
17:55 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City defender John Stones, speaking on BBC iPlayer's coverage in the aftermath of Manchester City's FA Cup win: "It wasn't the best game today in terms of chances or how we played, especially first half. But to stick in there and fight as we did is incredible. After the game, the atmosphere and the love was shown for me personally, lifting the trophy which I didn't really want to do. I just want to stay out of the limelight. It was a nice moment, a nice touch and send off.
"I can't put it into words. I have said before, I never would have believed or thought if someone had told me as a kid that this would be happening, that I'd have a song and be so loved. It's really overwhelming. It's really special and nice.
"This season has been difficult. The first half of the season I played a lot of games and was involved. I picked up a little injury. It's football, I haven't got the answers really."
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City goalscorer Antoine Semenyo, speaking to BBC One: "Everything happened so fast to be honest. It came straight to me and I had to improvise myself as quickly as I can.
"I have never competed for trophies like this before, so everything is new to me. Hopefully, we can finish the job off.
"It is a good finish, I can't lie. As a kid I have always wanted to be playing for the top teams - it took a long time to get there, but I am grateful.
"The first thing he [Pep Guardiola] said to me when I came was 'don't change your game'. He knows we control the game a lot, he still wants me to be me, still create a bit of chaos.
"I don't think there will be much celebrations tonight it is getting ready for Tuesday."
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City: What Silva saidpublished at 17:33 BST
17:33 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva, speaking to BBC One: "Very special. I am really happy. Everything about my journey here at Man City was fantastic. Hopefully, we can still have a small dream that we can fight for the Premier League.
"Today we are very happy. It is just special for me, being my last season to give them another trophy. Hopefully, not the last one.
"Since I arrived it has been 20 [trophies], so it is not bad. That was a fantastic goal. In a final there are no favourites. The beginning of the second half, they started really strong. They were putting us under constant pressure and it wasn't easy."
On Pep Guardiola: "He changed the way I see football. 80% of my career was with him as my manager. All the things I hoped to achieve were with him. The relationship we have got is very strong with the frustrations and the achievements.
"I care a lot about Man City. That's his decision. It is not for me to comment on that. I wish all the best. I enjoy being with him having shared all these moments together."
There were just 16 shots in this match (Man City 9, Chelsea 7), the lowest in an FA Cup final since Wembley re-opened in 2007.
A familiar feeling in a bad way...
Chelsea are just the second side to lose four consecutive FA Cup final appearances, after Leicester City between 1949 and 1969.
Chelsea's Reece James has played in four FA Cup finals and ended on the losing side each time. It's the joint-most different finals a player has appeared in without ever winning the competition, along with Paul Bracewell.
Image source, Getty Images
A familiar feeling in a good way...
Pep Guardiola is the first ever manager to win three or more English league titles, three or more European Cup/Champions League titles, three or more English FA Cups and three or more English League Cups.
Man City's Marc Guehi is the fourth player to play for the different winning teams in consecutive FA Cup finals (Crystal Palace last year) after Arthur Kinnaird (Wanderers 1878, Old Etonians 1879), Brian Talbot (Ipswich 1978, Arsenal 1979) and Olivier Giroud (Arsenal 2017, Chelsea 2018).
Some hope for Chelsea...
At 24 years and 301 days, Chelsea's was the youngest average starting XI for an FA Cup final since Nottingham Forest in 1991 (23y 309d).
'You just know City can create that one chance'published at 17:05 BST
17:05 BST
Media caption,
Former England Striker Wayne Rooney speaking on BBC One: "It wasn't a great game. I thought Chelsea were good. You know with the quality Man City have that sooner or later one of the superstars will open you up. The goal was incredible.
"Chelsea had some half opportunities and penalty shouts that weren't penalties. You just know with City they can create that one chance."
Image source, Getty Images
Micah Richards added: "He has come into the team, played up front at times, on the right. It's very hard to come into a team of superstars but he has shown exactly what he can do. Arguably player of the season this year."
And Daniel Sturridge offered: "Chelsea were very disciplined. It takes those moments of brilliance. A little movement from Haaland and the delicacy of the flick from Semenyo was instinctive. That's what it takes to win titles like this. Again, Bernardo Silva tirelessly working for his team-mates. He has put so much in. Man City keep going from strength to strength. It is a successful season for them in regard to trophies."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that thumped Crystal Palace during midweek.
They, too, are boosted by the return of Rodri, with the midfielder recovering from a groin injury.
A major surprise sees Rayan Cherki dropped to the bench with Omar Marmoush keeping in place in the starting line-up, while the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Nico O'Reilly all return.
Cup keeper James Trafford keeps his place in goal for the final in place of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Phil Foden and Savinho are on the bench but Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri miss out altogether.
Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Semenyo, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland
Substitutes: Donnarumma, Ake, Cherki, Foden, Kovacic, Savinho, Reijnders, Stones, Dias
What key areas or decisions might win the cup?published at 13:55 BST
13:55 BST
Chelsea will need discipline and defensive solidity if they are to find a way past Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup final.
There were encouraging signs in that regard last weekend, as interim head coach Calum McFarlane's switch to a back three (or five out of possession) yielded a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. The system offered greater protection in wide areas and a more compact defensive structure overall.
The return of Levi Colwill added balance to the backline, while Reece James made an impact from the bench, boosting the squad options heading into the final.
Long spells of sustained pressure are to be expected against Pep Guardiola's side, so Chelsea will likely need both patience and concentration without the ball.
The bigger question, though, is where the decisive moment might come from.
Cole Palmer, so often Chelsea's attacking focal point, is currently enduring a 10-game goal drought. That places added responsibility on others, with Joao Pedro's movement and Enzo Fernandez's composure in key moments potentially decisive if Chelsea are to take their chance when it comes.
Manchester City are overwhelming favourites heading into the showdown against Chelsea and on the back of a domestic 20-game unbeaten run.
Guardiola takes his side to Wembley in a cup semi-final or final for the 24th time to face a Chelsea side out of form and led by inexperienced interim boss Calum McFarlane.
City are aiming for a treble of trophies and know they can collect the second cup of the campaign after lifting the Carabao Cup earlier this season - that winning mentality and big-game experience may prove pivotal.
However, their challenge may be derailed by missing the experience and guile of Rodri. The Spaniard is set to travel to London but it is not yet clear whether he has recovered from a groin injury - the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner would be a huge miss in midfield.
City are into a record fourth consecutive final but the wounds of the past two are still raw, beaten by bitter rivals Manchester United two years ago and stunned by Crystal Palace last May.
Striker Erling Haaland has never scored at Wembley. Will that barren streak continue for the Norwegian?
'Anything can happen in a final' - Ait-Nouripublished at 10:51 BST
10:51 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri says "anything can happen" in Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.
"It means a lot to me," he told Total Sport's Mark Crossley.
"I'm very excited to play this game against Chelsea. It will be a tough game. To play in Wembley is unbelievable, the pitch and the stadium is very big.
"To play in Wembley is amazing.
"It's a final, everything can happen in a final. Chelsea is a tough team, they have a lot of very good players. They showed in the past also. It is true this season they are not in the best form but a final is a final. Anything can happen in a final.
"We will try and play our football and we will see what happens."
It has been a mixed first season for Ait-Nouri following his move last summer from Wolves, but he could add his second trophy after the Carabao Cup and he was full of praise for the coaching of Pep Guardiola.
"I enjoy a lot," he added.
"I really enjoy to train everyday with these kind of players, with this manager. I improve a lot my weaknesses and I'm very happy to progress everyday with coaching like that.
"Guardiola has improved me in a lot of things; defensively, how I need to be positioned in the game, when I need to give the ball or go one-v-one, when I need to cross. He's improved me a lot."
FA Cup final preview: Team news, talking points and key statspublished at 07:36 BST
07:36 BST
Matt Jones BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
The 145th FA Cup final could be Pep Guardiola's last shot at silverware as Manchester City manager.
Chelsea, in crisis for much of the campaign, stand between him and a 20th trophy with the club.
A season that promised so much has turned into a nightmare for the Stamford Bridge outfit. Enzo Maresca's departure as head coach in January triggered a tumultuous spell under Liam Rosenior, marked by significant decline in performance and professionalism among several players in the squad.
Yet under interim head coach Calum McFarlane, Chelsea edged past Leeds in the semi-finals, and last weekend's 1-1 draw at Liverpool showed signs of rekindled spirit. McFarlane was also in charge in January – in his first interim spell after Maresca's exit - when the Blues snatched a 1-1 draw at City.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez missed the Liverpool game with concussion but could return. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are doubts. Estevao, Jesse Derry and Jamie Gittens are all out.
As shown in the graphic below, either Chelsea or City have been involved in each of the last nine FA Cup finals. However, they have had limited success with City winning twice and Chelsea just once.
Although it would be foolish to rule out Chelsea, there is no doubt City are the big favourites.
Guardiola's side may come up just short in the Premier League title race – they are two points behind Arsenal with two games to play – but a domestic cup double is a rare feat; this would only be the sixth time this has ever happened.
City will also be keen to right the wrongs of the last two seasons, in which they've lost two FA Cup finals in timid fashion.
A year ago, they were beaten by Crystal Palace after Eberechi Eze's goal and Omar Marmoush's saved penalty. In 2024, local rivals Manchester United stunned Guardiola's side.
Guardiola, who has been linked with an end-of-season exit for much of the campaign, will not want to sign off his time at City with just a fourth major final loss with the club. After a raft of changes to the team for Wednesday's clash with Palace in the Premier League, a win under the Wembley arch now looks to be the clear priority.
However, Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri remains a doubt for the game. He has not played since the win over Arsenal on April 19.
How are fans feeling before FA Cup final?published at 07:30 BST
07:30 BST
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea fan Nina Hristova...
The FA Cup final carries huge weight for Chelsea. After yet another dismal season, it represents a chance to secure silverware, something that would go a long way in restoring confidence within the squad, and finally end what has felt like a lingering Wembley 'curse'.
However, there is a sense that Manchester City are approaching it with just as much intent. Pep Guardiola's team selection against Crystal Palace, resting key players despite the title race still being in the balance, underlined how important this competition remains to them. Even with rotation, City were still dangerous and in control, a level of squad depth and quality that Chelsea simply do not have the luxury of.
The Blues have lost their past six finals at Wembley, but City have had frustrations of their own in this competition, losing their past two FA Cup finals, which will only charge them further.
From a Chelsea supporter's perspective, confidence is low. The belief that this side can rise to the occasion in big games against elite opposition, once almost expected, has faded in recent times.
The record against City only adds to that feeling, with no victory since the 2021 Champions League final. Even at their very 'best', Chelsea have often only ever been good enough to come away with a draw.
The only real hope is that it's a final, and finals have a habit of defying form and expectation - and that's the small bit of optimism supporters will hang on to on Saturday.
For a squad packed with players yet to win major honours, winning an FA Cup could be the moment that shifts the mindset and expectations around what this group is capable of going forward.
On Saturday, attention turns to the oldest cup competition in football. It's a final that's being contested by two Premier League sides that are no strangers to lifting this piece of silverware.
Chelsea have won it eight times, City on seven occasions. But Pep Guardiola's side have made more history just by reaching the final this year. They became the first team to reach the FA Cup final in four consecutive seasons - the last time they won it was back in 2023 as part of their Treble season.
It's been a turbulent season for Chelsea. After sacking Enzo Maresca, then bringing in interim boss Calum McFarlane, the Blues appointed Liam Rosenior - to disastrous effect. McFarlane is back in charge - who, interestingly, managed to salvage a late 1-1 at the Etihad earlier in the year. Sitting in ninth place in the league, with hopes of Europe fading, an FA Cup win would really provide a much-needed boost of confidence for them.
City already have silverware in the bag, The League Cup is sitting pretty in the trophy cabinet, but would look even sweeter with an FA Cup next to it. A Premier League trophy is highly unlikely this season, with Arsenal having a two-point advantage and the easier fixtures left, but a double would be a perfect send-off for the departing Bernardo Silva and John Stones.
With rumours circling about Pep's future - could it be the last final he leads City to? Or would he want to give the Premier League another shot next season and see the final year of his contract out?
With key players rested during the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, the rotation was a strong indication of the respect Pep has for the trophy - and how much he'd love to win it again.
City have already lost the last two FA Cup finals on the spin. Losing a third? Barring an unmitigated disaster, I can't see a world in which that happens.