If this is the last trophy in English football for Pep Guardiola, then the great Catalan did it his way again – a first-choice XI that felt wrong, this time rectified mid-match and once again too good for the opposition.
The 15th major Manchester City trophy for Guardiola – 20 if you include them all, and he does – in an FA Cup final no one needs to watch again. The City manager started without his beguiling new playmaker Rayan Cherki and then, when the latter was introduced at half-time in place of Omar Marmoush, finally City’s day came together. The winning goal from Antoine Semenyo on 72 minutes was taken brilliantly and never looked less than enough.
Semenyo, one of two transformative January signings along with Marc Guéhi, has had a profound effect on a faltering City season in which they still have a slim hope of the domestic treble. Even so, that this double-trophy season might be considered a par in the Guardiola years shows just how monumental those 10 years have been in English football. Notwithstanding, of course, the Premier League investigation that will one day tell us exactly what rules were broken and those that were not.
Guardiola lost the Champions League final to Chelsea five years ago having picked the wrong team and given the underdogs that night a fighting chance. This time Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane, whom Guardiola may only just have recognised, picked a three-man defence that was more often five. One can only guess whether others in the Chelsea hierarchy had an influence on their under-21 team coach’s selection, but either way it did little to inspire. A bad challenge early on from Enzo Fernández meant that he was limited by the booking that followed.
There was a Moisés Caicedo header in the second half that Rodri headed away from inside the six-yard box. Other than that, Chelsea attempts were hard to recall. Semenyo flicked in the winner from Erling Haaland’s cross with a delightfully delicate touch with the inside of his boot.
Full report to follow…
How the final was won
Pep got it wrong again – but learnt quickly
Once more in a final, the Manchester City manager tinkered. He just cannot help himself! What was he thinking starting Omar Marmoush, a forward who wants to run in behind, in the No 10 role ahead of Rayan Cherki, who has the skills to break down a packed Chelsea defence just as he did in the League game at Stamford Bridge? Thankfully for City, Guardiola saw the error of his ways and changed it at half-time and Cherki inevitably played a part in Antoine Semenyo’s goal. But he has done this in the past, not least in losing the Champions League final to Chelsea in 2021 when he went without a defensive midfielder.
It was not the only mistake made by Guardiola, who brought back Rodri even though he was clearly not fully fit. The Spaniard faded badly and it helped hand the initiative to Chelsea in midfield. Again Guardiola rectified this by replacing him with Mateo Kovacic, who played well with energy and aggression. It helped swing the final back in City’s favour. It also helps to have such a formidable squad.
Chelsea played like a small team
Calum McFarlane is only temporarily in charge but the sight of him in a tracksuit in the technical area for an FA Cup final smacked of a small-team mentality, not a team of Chelsea’s stature. It did not befit the occasion. Obviously too much can be made of this but, tactically, Chelsea also played like underdogs.
Huge underdogs – with a back-five (not a back-three) and six defenders in all and not even appearing to want the ball in the first half. Given this is Chelsea, given the huge amount of money spent on this squad, that is shocking. At one point Chelsea won a corner and ended up playing the ball all the way back to goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Calum McFarlane’s tracksuit was not a good look for such a show-piece occasion – John Walton/PA
Such rope-a-dope tactics are only worth it if you win, and Chelsea will point to being more in the game after half-time. But they did not deserve to win and can have no complaints, despite their constant appealing for penalties. By the end, they had five attacking players on the pitch but it was too late. The frustration was clear and damning.
Haaland did not score (again) but showed his worth
Much might be made of Erling Haaland having now played in nine finals without scoring. It is an extraordinary statistic, especially for a striker who has 50 goals this season for club and country and provides such a threat. But it must also be remembered just how closely Haaland was marked as Chelsea’s three centre-halves attempted to smother him. It did not work.
What Haaland has added to his game is becoming much more of a team player with his tireless running and his formidable defensive work. He often wins what they call the “first contact” in his own penalty area and, time and again, headed the ball clear. Haaland also played a huge part in City’s goal with a clever run to meet Bernardo Silva’s pass – after he had delivered the ball to the captain – before he crossed for Semenyo to flick home. It was no goal for Haaland but do not underestimate his importance in winning this final.
06:09pm
And a last view from Chelsea – Calum Macfarlane’s post-match thoughts
It was a really close game between two good sides. Both teams had periods when they were in control and it was defined by small margins, so we’re disappointed with the result.
[Should Khusanov’s challenge on Hato have been a penalty?] I’ve watched it back and for me it’s a penalty. We don’t seem to be getting the luck at the moment.I thought we started the second half as the better team. When you have the momentum you have to take advantage, but they got the goal and we were chasing the game after that.
[How should Chelsea change things in the summer] It’s not my place to say. I wouldn’t feel comfortable giving an opinion on that. My job is to get ready for Spurs.
05:59pm
And finally… Pep Guardiola speaks to TNT Sports
Five finals in 10 years. We have won three, lost two. Quite decent, I would say.
They had chances. James and Caicedo are so good. They create a pattern that is so good, with Enzo and Cole they are so dangerous. Second half, they were better [than us] and we found a goal. Sometimes football is like this. Last season against Crystal Palace, wven the previous season against United, we were better than today. Sometimes it happens. I’m happy for the guys.
And we’re still alive in the Premier League, sorry Laura [an Arsenal fan].
Usually Antoine crosses for Erland to make the finish but they switched. Marc [Guéhi] and Antoine coming in in wintertime have been fantastic. Only I have the regret at the end, the amount of players that deserved to play didn’t play. It’s difficult to swallow. it’s a business in the end and you have to do what you believe.
[Why bring Cherki on at half-time] Caicedo was jumping on Rodri, I was trying to find [a solution] in that position [with] Cherki connecting with Antoine and Erling. I didn’t expect them to play five at the back and that created problems in positions.Did you like it when Chelsea attacked more in the second half, giving you some space?] No. I don’t like that. I don’t like it. I like to keep them in their half and stay there all the time.
Chelsea have seven days. Yesterday was a mess, getting here. Problem with the trains meant it took six hours. The quality they have, I expected [it to be hard].
We would love to celebrate now back in Manchester but we will next Monday with a parade with the women’s team and our two trophies. We will see [if we can make it three]. We try to extend the hope against Aston Villa.
[There are so many rumours about you leaving. You’re not are you?] Rumours? [Grins]. Have a lovely evening! [And off he trots].
05:45pm
Rhapsody in sky blue
Bernardo Silva and John Stones raise the FA Cup – Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images
Back on to the field – Mike Egerton/PA
Guardiola wins his third FA Cup as City’s manager – ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP
05:38pm
Antoine Semenyo speaks to BBC Sport
It’s happened a couple of times in training. I had to improvise. Today it came in perfectly, behind me and as long as I got contact on it towards goal, I hoped it might be in.
Everything happened so fast. When [Haaland] got the ball I just wanted to make it into the box, see what happened. I had to improvise as quick as I can and I’m happy with the finish. It’s a good finish, I cannot lie.
It feels surreal. I don’t have words. I have never competed for trophies like this before so everything’s new to me now. I’m enjoying every day and hopefully we can finish off with another trophy. Hopefully.
As a kid I’ve always wanted to play for a top team and competing for trophies. It took a long time but I’m grateful. Whatever happened when I was 15 or 16, it doesn’t have to mean it’s the end of the journey.
First thing [Pep] said when I came was: ‘Don’t change your game. Still create a bit of chaos, get in behind, dribble at defenders, get shots away.’ That’s what I’m good at. He told me I have all the ability and just to be calm, be relaxed and everything else will flow. It was the first thing he said and that gave me a bit of peace because I wasn’t sure what I was stepping into.
There won’t be much celebration. We will get ready for Tuesday and hope things go our way and the results fall into our hands.
05:16pm
The two departing stalwarts lift the Cup
Bernardo Silva and John Stones take a handle each and raise the Cup and then pass it down the line.
05:12pm
City go up for the Cup
Pep Guardiola is at the front of the line to receive his medal.
05:09pm
Dominance
Trophy No 17 for Guardiola at City that, 20 if you include the Community Shield which he most certainly does. We’ll have to see if he adds a seventh Premier League title to that list before the season is over but his dominance over English football in the last decade has been quite extraordinary.
05:05pm
Bernardo Silva speaks to BBC Sport
Everything about my journey was fantastic and today we are very happy. It is special for me being my last season to give them another trophy, 20 since I arrived, but we still hope to add one more. It was a fantastic goal. the beginning of the second half was really tough, under constant pressure. Congratulations to Chelsea they made it very difficult.
[Pep] changed the way I see football. Eighty per cent of my career, more or less, has been with him. All the things I ever hoped to achieve was under him. The relationship has been very strong – with the frustrations, with the achievements – and I hope that one day when I come back to this city we can have dinner and that we will stay friends.That’s his decision [whether to stay]. It’s not for me to comment on that. I want the best for him and for Manchester City. Pep being the best manager in the world, if he stays that’s obviously better. But it’s his decision.
05:00pm
The Pep Powerplay
Guardiola involved in one of those long conversations on the pitch with an opposition player, in this instance Chelsea captain Reece James.
04:58pm
Full time: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
A superb finish settles a rather poor game. City have won their eighth FA Cup, Guardiola his third, and they now have as many wins as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham. Marc Guehi wins back-to-back FA Cups with different sides, emulating Olivier Giroud, Brian Talbot and Arthur Kinnaird.
04:56pm
90+5 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Pedro Neto shoots from 18 yards straight into O’Reilly and City break but Cherki goes the wrong way at first and, much to Haaland’s annoyance, releases the pass too late.
04:54pm
90+4 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
City try to kettle the ball in the corner and do so for a few seconds until Semenyo knocks the ball out for a Chelsea throw-in.
04:53pm
90+2 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Caicedo is booked for sarcastically applauding the award of a free-kick to City after a foul on Semenyo.
04:52pm
90+1 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Delap makes a hash of a headed chance from 14 yards. Gusto had swerved a cross towards the unmarked centre-forward but he went for power rather than a glance and missed by a mile.
04:50pm
90 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Five minutes of stoppage time are signalled.
04:48pm
88 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Doku jinks past Gusto on the left and is tripped as he tries to accelerate away.
04:48pm
85 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Firm, one-hand stop from Sanchez to keep out Cherki’s thumping effort on the volley as City have fun in the space vacated by Chelsea’s urgent quest for an equaliser.
Sanchez keeps out Cherki’s thunderous drive – TONY O’BRIEN/REUTERS
Garnacho → Joao Pedro.
04:46pm
83 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Doku picks out O’Reilly on the overlap and, with Gusto pushing high, eats up the ground to have a free cut-back into the box. He opts for Cherki’s run and Caicedo makes a wonderful tackle. Nunes drives back down the right and shoots from a tight angle but a deflection off Hato sends the ball into the foot of the post.
04:43pm
81 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Delap → James.
Chelsea have gone to four at the back.
04:42pm
78 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Yet another penalty shout for Chelsea and once again the referee and VAR side with Khusanov who leant into Hato knocking the makeshift left-back off his feet. The pundits also agree that Khusanov should not be penalised but he walks a thin line with thes physicality of his defending which could be interpreted as barges and bodychecks.
04:39pm
75 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Very open now and O’Reilly bounds into the gap behind Gusto to pull back a pass towards the penalty spot when Haaland and Semenyo had already made deeeper runs.
04:38pm
72 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 1
Chelsea are almost level straight away from a long throw. Colwill nods it on and Fernandez flicks it on to the top of the goal. skimming the bar.
Pedro Neto → Cucurella.
04:31pm Video • Goals
GOAL!
Chelsea 0 Man City 1 (Semenyo) Bernardo starts the move with a gorgeous pass out to Haaland who had ghosted out to the right. He feeds in a low cross that Semenyo flicks in with his right heel and turns the ball into the bottom left corner.
What an outstanding finish by Antoine Semenyo to finally make the breakthrough. If it is the only goal then it is one worthy of winning any final with a lovely backheeled finish from Erling Haaland’s cross. Now what have Chelsea got?
04:31pm
70 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Kovacic overhits a pass intended for Haaland but then is given a free-kick a minute later when he tries to dribble through the heart of the centre-circle and is clipped across the shin.
04:29pm
68 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City suddenly spring into life and find their old slickness in flooding forward. Fofana turns Doku’s near-post cross behind for a corner. City take it short and widen the angle for Cherki to whip a cross to the back post with his right foot but City can only head it into Sanchez’s arms.
04:27pm
66 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Joao Pedro goes flying in the box after a slight touch from Khusanov as they battled to meet Gusto’s excellent cross from the right. Another penalty shout. Another shake of the head from Darren England.
04:25pm
64 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Mateo Kovacic → Rodri.
Foden is saved for later.
04:24pm
63 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Excellent recovery tackle from Nunes after Joao Pedro seemed to be beating him down the outside.
Manchester City have lost their way a bit here and Pep Guardiola has just called on midfielder Mateo Kovacic to get ready. Presumably for Rodri who, unsurprisingly, has faded badly and is barely involved.
04:22pm
61 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Guardiola calls Kovacic and Foden over to get stripped. He needs something in midfield to disrupt Chelsea’s second-half dominance in that area.
04:20pm
60 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
All Chelsea at the moment and their fans are making a racket in appreciation as they chase their first domestic trophy for eight years.
04:20pm
58 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Khusanov is penalised and booked for bringing down Cucurella on the left. From the free-kick Chelsea appeal vociferously for two penalties, the first when Doku nicked it away from Caicedo on the 18-yard line, then from Fernandez’s cross which struck the back of O’Reilly’s elbow from very close range. Neither warranted a pen.
04:17pm
56 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Trafford flaps at the resulting corner, trying to punch it after barging his way through the six-yard box but without making a proper fist of the clearance. Rodri bails him out with a goalline, headed clearance from Caicedo with the keeper stranded.
The TV cameras have cut to England manager Thomas Tuchel. There are six players on the pitch at present who will be hopeful of making his 26-man World Cup squad when it is announced next Friday. He will be disappointed that John Stones is not playing, though, and it now looks touch-and-go as to whether he makes it. But Levi Colwill – very much a Tuchel favourite – could be a wild card.
04:15pm
54 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Trafford picks his head up too soon and lets a back-pass slip under his studs and out for a corner. He tried to style it out by clearing it but the ref and linesman were not buying it.
04:14pm
52 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Doku skips past Palmer and faces up Gusto then glides past him. But Palmer had rushed back to make amends and managed to stretch his leg to knock the ball out of Doku’s stride and although the winger went over said leg, it was a clean tackle.
04:12pm
50 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Semenyo mugs Colwill in the Chelsea box but only after shoving him in the back. Nunes and Fernandez are also ‘enjoying’ some argy-bargy.
04:10pm
48 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Heavy touch from Fofana gives Doku possession and he passes infield to Cherki. The substitute plays a cute reverse pass out to O’Reily running down the left and the full-back stands up an all but perfect far-post cross. Semenyo gets up but then bludgeons his header over the bar. Big chance. Should have scored. Guardiola, sitting down for once, could not have been jolted more had he been sitting on the electric chair.
04:06pm
46 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Doku fouls Gusto moments after the kick off and Chelsea will have a free-kick 10 yards inside their own half.
Rayan Cherki is coming on for Manchester City. Quite why he did not start is a mystery… but then Pep Guardiola does not always get it right for finals.
04:04pm
Half-time change
Rayan Cherki → Omar Marmoush.
03:54pm
Half-time verdict
Cup finals are, naturally, often cagey and cautious. But that was a poor first-half for the FA Cup final. Chelsea will undoubtedly be the happier team and their dope-a-rope tactics have so far worked. But Manchester City have dominated without really creating any clear cut chances. Erling Haaland has a had a couple of sights at goal. The fact is the game is crying out for a player like Rayan Cherki to bring a bit of guile. It would be a surprise if he does not come on, possibly as early as half-time.
03:53pm
Half-time: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea came into the game in the last 20 minutes in an attacking sense. They have looked dangerous on the break which has been very well co-ordinated and tightly organised in their defensive shape. City have bossed possession 60-40 but they have lacked precision in the very narrow spaces that Chelsea have left for them. That’s why they need the artful dodgers Cherki or Foden in the pockets.
03:50pm
45+2 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
VAR check for a Chelsea penalty. Bernardo lost the ball and Chelsea shifted it forward quickly. Joao Pedro runs on to it, takes it into the area but before he can shoot, he collides with Khusanov and hits the deck. Shoulder to shoulder deems VAR. It was a bodycheck but legal. Khusanov is quicker than Joao Pedro which is Chelsea’s main problem in attack. Khusanov is quicker than almost anyone.
03:47pm
45 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Three minutes of stoppage time are signalled. Doku busts a gut to hare into the corner and stop a pass going out for a Chelsea goal-kick.
03:46pm
44 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Thumping left-foot shot from Haaland after being slid through by a 25-yard pass down the channel is turned behind by Sanchez.
Reece James and Levi Colwill certainly make Chelsea a far more solid, organised team. And one that is hard to break down as Manchester City are finding. They are also slowly growing into the game. Meanwhile it was no surprise to see Enzo Fernandez awarded the first yellow card – could it have been a red? – for a foul on Bernardo Silva followed by Marc Cucurella being shown the second.
03:44pm
42 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Guardiola sends Cherki out to warm up. Either he or Foden would give City the chance to get back on the front foot.
03:43pm
40 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Colwill starts an attacking move with another cute pass to bypass the press. Chelsea pour forward and earn themselves a corner on the right but it comes to naught when there’s a soft foul on a City player who goes down like a bag of hammers and is awarded a free-kick.
03:41pm
38 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Good work from Chelsea down the right, Gusto to James to Palmer forming a triangle. Palmer has Joao Pedro closer to the centre of goal and Cucurella towards the left of the D. picking out the latter, seemingly the wrong option, with a cross that is too high to control properly.
03:39pm
35 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea’s fans are the louder whenever given some encouragement and they are starting to hold their own now in terms of possession. Colwill is such a bright influence on them, looking for long passes forward rather than the tippy-tappy Maresca-ball.
03:35pm
33 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Cynical foul by Cucurella to chop down Semenyo in full flight after Khusanov had played a superb pass out from about the penalty spot. Khusanov’s alertness as Palmer slalomed towards the box but then lost the ball with his final, heavy touch, caught Cucurella 30 yards out of position.
03:33pm
31 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Joao Pedro is down with what looks like a dead leg. Again, he seems OK.
03:32pm
29 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Fernandez is booked for a very heavy, sliding and aggressive tackle on Bernardo, taking the ball but also demolishing his opponent. Guardiola goes garrity on the touchline.
Guardiola goes garrity – Clive Rose/Getty Images
It was an interesting decision by Pep Guardiola to pick Omar Marmoush ahead of Rayan Cherki. The Manchester City manager does like to tinker for a cup final and has done it again. But Cherki has been outstanding for City and the way this game is panning out, with Chelsea defending, it is crying out for a player with his skills to unlock their defence. If this carries on, expect him to be introduced.
03:31pm
27 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Haaland stabs a shot at the back post from about two yards past Sanchez and into the goal. Finally got one? Nope. Doku, who has come over to the right to escape being double teamed and forced on to his left foot by Gusto and James, slips a pass to Nunes down the right and the full-back tees it up perfectly for Haaland. But Nunes went too soon and he, not Haaland, was offside.
Haaland’s ‘goal’ is chalked off by an offside flag – Clive Rose/Getty Images
03:28pm
26 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Caicedo goes down off the ball clutching his shin. Replays show he was clipped by Marmoush moments earlier. But he’s OK.
That was poor from Erling Haaland. And he knew it. Reece James was dispossessed, as Chelsea again played far too deep, and Haaland had a run at goal. In the end was it a shot or a cross? Either way the chance was wasted and Haaland held his head. Cue the statistic that in eight finals Haaland has – curiously – not scored.
03:26pm
24 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City pounce into the press to win the ball in Chelsea’s right-back position and Haaland whips a left-foot shot/cross across the face of goal, the angle all but impossible for a left-foot finish… with the instep at least.
03:25pm
22 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea end up working it all the way back to their keeper from the corner, so intense is the press. But Palmer is back to help out when they lose the ball, wins it back and sets up Fernandez to chip a long pass up the inside-right to Joao Pedro. Khusanov accelerates smoothly to catch him and with Guehi and O’Reilly all getting back, too, the striker slips as he tries to force a shot from 15 yards.
03:23pm
20 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City give away the ball cheaply from the free-kick and work the ball infield from the right before spinning it back out to Gusto bombing down the right. The full-back whips over a cross, fizzing, dipping cross towards the back stick and Nunes dives to head it behind and stop it reaching Cucurella.
03:21pm
18min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Gusto is penalised for booting the heels of Doku as the winger tried to hold him off.
Are Chelsea going to play here or not? Six defenders in the team and just the 27.6 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes does not bode well for an entertaining encounter.
It’s how they played in the second half of the semi-final.
03:19pm
16 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Cucurella gets away with some blatant dissent when questioning the award of a throw-in to City. The referee calls him and his captain over for a lecture but keeps his cards in his pocket.
Cucurella goes nuts at a linesman – Marc Atkins/Getty Images
03:17pm
13 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Guardiola’s hands go to his head when Semenyo drops a shoulder to lose Fernandez and Cucurella and drives a terrific pass through the six-yard box that was screaming out for a tap-in. Neither Marmoush nor Haaland read what he was trying to do and were left on their heels.
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Calum McFarlane wearing a tracksuit for the FA Cup Final. Discuss. The Chelsea interim head coach may simply think he is a temporary appointment and would rather take a low-key approach. But this may well be the biggest game of his career, whatever he goes onto achieve in football, and it does not feel right that he has not smartened up for the occasion. The 40-year-old does not have to wear a suit but neither does he have to look like he is taking a training session and not in the technical area at Wembley in a big showpiece match. Certainly Pep Guardiola looks more the part.
03:15pm
11 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
O’Reilly embarks on a storming run up the left, forcing Gusto backwards to earn a corner. Doku has two bites at it and his second cross, from a shallower angle, picks out Rodri’s run round the back. The midfielder heads it back across goal from the right and Haaland tries to hook an overhead volley into the net but boots Hato in the head. Free-kick.
Semenyo closes Fernandez down – ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP
03:11pm
9 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City free-kick about 35 yards out for a trip on Bernardo. Semenyo smacks it straight into the wall and Chelsea latch on to the rebound and try to counter at pace but Khusanov makes a fine sliding tackle to thwart Palmer.
03:10pm
7 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Chelsea want a foul just inside the City half for a Khusanov tackle on Joao Pedro but the ref waves play on and City storm forward. Bernardo’s hacked shot from 20 yards bobbles up off a Chelsea block and Marmoush tries to hook it in from the right of the six-yard box but goes with the wrong foot and scuffs it. No problem for Sanchez.
The return of Rodri for Manchester City feels significant. They have won four and drawn one game since he was injured in the victory over Arsenal last month. But that draw against Everton might well cost them the Premier League title and they have certainly had far less control without him. Inevitably he is seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages.
03:07pm
5 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Joao Pedro leads the press for Chelsea with Palmer and Fernandez tucked in narrowly behind them. When Chelsea win the ball back and send Cucurella on a driving run up the left. Nunes stalks him all the way and makes a crunching tackle that takes the ball and leaves the left-back sprawling.
03:05pm
3 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
City sweep the ball around, hanging on to possession until Fofana steps up and tackles Doku in the City half but Chelsea cough up the ball cheaply and City start pinging the passes around again until chipping it long up the left, too long for Doku. Sanchez gathers.
Gone are the days when it felt the singing of ‘Abide with me’ was a memorable focal point in the build-up to the FA Cup Final. That’s not a criticism of the choir of Bradford City fans who led it superbly this time round, more of reflection of how it has fallen in the pecking order to jazzed up techno music and a booming PA with flame machines and all that razzmatazz. I know I sound like a fuddy-duddy but it feels like a shame.
03:03pm
1 min: Chelsea 0 Man City 0
After a Chelsea huddle (in their own half), City kick off, attacking from left to right. Semenyo is on the right and Marmoush is playing almost alongside Haaland in the opening moments, almost 4-4-2.
03:01pm
Pep Guardiola
Is rocking a light grey polo neck, like Yoffy from Fingerbobs.
Pep Guardiola wears his grey poloneck with his Rupert Bear trousers – Michael Regan /The FA Collection
Yoffy lifts a finger… and the FA Cup?
02:56pm
The captains introduce their teams
FA Patron, the Prince of Wales, shakes the players’ hands. Next up the national anthem, sung once again by the Bantam of the Opera choir.
02:53pm
The players are coming out
Both sides are in their home kits, royal blue plays sky blue.
02:49pm
Time for Abide With Me
It’s sung by a choir of Bradford City fans, ‘The Bantam of the Opera choir’.
Nicely done.
02:42pm
Guardiola speaks again
02:30pm
Calum Macfarlane speaks to BBC Sport
No Cup final suits for Chelsea this year – Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
It’s a massive privilege, a massive honour and the biggest game of my career. Hopefully we can get the performance and the win.
Really positive signs from the Liverpool game. We did that in the Leeds fame and then didn’t perform in the next game. We have to find that consistency in our approach to the game. But we are in a good place and can attack the game.
We can beat them by being the best version of ourselves. We have shown this season that the quality and talent we have can compete with teams all across Europe at moments and we need one of those moments today.
We’ve had a difficult period. We need to put in a performance, get the right result and guarantee being in Rurope which is massive for this club. And put the last four to five weeks behind us.
02:24pm
Don’t believe the hype
The Chelsea PA announcer, before reading out the team news, has declared “that when it comes to this competition London is blue!” Just a reminder that Chelsea have won the FA Cup eight times… only the six fewer than Arsenal and the same number as Tottenham Hotspur.
02:22pm
Pep Guardiola speaks to BBC Sport
Always nice to be here. Rodri’s presence and composure is unique, maybe not for 90 minutes.
[Is Marmoush’s selection a reward for his performance on Wednesday?] No, Phil should play as well. When you have all the squad, it’s always tough. We need some certain movements today and we believe Omar is special for that.When you start you always think it’s going to be a good season. But you don’t think you’ll win everything. But now just three games left and [all to play for still].
02:15pm
Bernardo Silva speaks to BBC Sport
Very special. A final game for Man City at Wembley. Being my last one it makes it even more special. We just want to win it and celebrate.
We know how much it means to the fans and the club. The hunger is there for both teams. It is not an issue.
A final is a final. There are no favourites. As I said for the Carabao Cup final when Arsenal were ‘the favourites’, I said there are no favourites in finals.
It’s going top be a tough game. They have a lot of quality and on their day we know how tough they can be.
02:05pm
Your teams in black and white
Chelsea Sánchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, James, Caicedo, Cucurella; Palmer, Enzo; Joao Pedro.
Substitutes Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Chalobah, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap.
Man City Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Rodri; Semenyo, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland.
Substitutes Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Cherki, Savinho, Foden.
Referee Darren England (Barnsley).
02:02pm
Man City team news
Rodri returns; Marmoush starts in preference to Cherki and Foden
02:00pm
Chelsea team news
Sticks to semi-final formation and starts with a back three:
01:49pm
Rodri pronounces himself fit
The Ballon d’Or winner has told TNT Sports that he is ready to play but did not confirm whether he was starting. Team news is imminent.
01:47pm
Chelsea fans’ protest against the ownership continues at Wembley
01:45pm
The half and half effect
You don’t have to lose your head to buy one… but it helps – Jonathan Brady/PA
01:26pm
The biggest managerial mismatch in FA Cup final history
The great Pep Guardiola once reached a cup final in his first season as a head coach, although they were in very different circumstances to Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane.
When McFarlane leads his team out at Wembley it will be his sixth match in charge of a senior team. Compare that to Guardiola’s first Copa del Rey triumph of his coaching career, back in 2009, which came in his 58th game of the season. Pep also had a season cutting his teeth with Barça B, the reserves who play in the lower divisions of the senior Spanish football pyramid.
Battle of the buckets – Jonathan Brady/PA
The contrast in the technical area for this year’s FA Cup final could not be greater. It will be billed as the biggest managerial mismatch in the final of the world’s oldest football cup competition. The Greatest versus The Greenhorn. In managerial terms, Royalty versus Rookie.
01:12pm
The 50 greatest moments in FA Cup history
When Wanderers beat Royal Engineers in the first FA Cup final in 1872, none of those taking part at the Oval could have guessed what the competition would become. Because 154 years later, despite every attempt to lessen its meaning, the Cup remains the most gloriously unpredictable tournament in world sport.
Trying to select the best moments was no easy task, but it was a fun one. Sadly few of us have direct recall of the Cup’s glorious first century. Still, there are moments from those days that have become etched into the collective consciousness. While the final has diminished as a national institution, the moments keep coming. And here is my choice.
Yesterday we counted down from 50 to 26. Today we complete the list, from 25 to one. You can give each moment the thumbs up or thumbs down, share your memories and opinions in the comments section, and vote on the top 10.
12:19pm
Betting on this afternoon’s game?
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12:05pm
Match details
Chelsea vs Manchester United, kick-off 3pm at Wembley.
Broadcast live in the UK on BBC 1 and TNT Sports 1. Televised live in the US on ESPN2.
Referee: Darren England (Barnsley). Assistants: Tim Wood and Akil Howson. Fourth: Sam Barrot. VAR: Peter Bankes
12:02pm
Preview: Peculiar symmetry
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the 145th FA Cup final, between Chelsea and Manchester City. Although these two have met in a Champions League final, they have never met in this particular fixture and whoever wins today will disfigure a peculiar kind of symmetry: Chelsea have won it eight times and have been runners-up eight times; City have won seven FA Cups and lost in the final seven times. It hasn’t been a particularly happy occasion for wither on recent times. City were runners-up in the last two finals and Chelsea lost each of the three preceding them from 2020-22.
Chelsea have won major trophies on three occasions with caretaker managers – Guus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez – but they have never had one as outgunned as Calum Macfarlane who has been in charge of the first team for five games in two spells, winning one, the semi-final against Leeds, drawing two and losing two. By comparison Pep Guardiola has managed 1040 games but in Macfarlane’s favour is his first match as interim when Enzo Fernández’s 94th-minute equaliser at the Etihad illustrated Macfarlane’s tactical nous, ditto his switch to a back three in the semi-final.
Enzo Fernández scores Chelsea’s late equaliser in Calum Macfarlane’s first game in charge – Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
This is the 33rd final of 34 since the start of the Premier League featuring at least one of today’s five richest clubs – Manchester City and United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea – which may account for tickets being available on the secondary sites for as little as £170, £200 less than tickets for the Leeds-Chelsea semi on the morning of the game.
Both sets of fans have had more than their share of days in the sun over the past 20 years and there can be little criticism of those who are either sated or can no longer afford to go to everything they would wish to attend. No doubt, though, that this final has not resonated half as much as last year’s in the wider public imagination and has been overshadowed, in the build-up, by the Scottish Premiership title shoot-out.
Chelsea look as healthy as they have done all season. Levi Colwill made his first start last time out after nine months of recuperation from knee surgery, Reece James has had a full week of training as have Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho. Only Estevao, Jesse Derry and Jamie Gittens have been ruled out. City, who rested Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku for Wednesday’s victory over Palace, rated only Rodri as doubtful for today.
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