Pep Guardiola has emphasized that winning the FA Cup remains a crucial goal for Manchester City, even if it won’t fully redeem what has been a disappointing season by the club’s lofty standards.
City, recently dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool after a five-year reign, are at risk of ending the campaign without silverware for the first time since Guardiola’s debut season in 2016/17. Their hopes now hinge on overcoming Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
With two league fixtures remaining, City are also battling to secure a top-five finish to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola underlined the importance of the FA Cup ahead of the final, which is City’s third consecutive appearance in the competition’s finale.
“That’s the issue now, the FA Cup is not always seen as the top priority,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday. “But once you’re in the final, of course you want to win. It’s massively important.
“To win it, you have to reach the final, and that means winning your previous matches. We’ve consistently managed that over the years.”
Star striker Erling Haaland is expected to start, having returned from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s disappointing 0-0 draw against relegated Southampton.
Meanwhile, Guardiola confirmed he is not planning to limit Kevin De Bruyne’s playing time in preparation for what could be the Belgian’s final home appearance for the club against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
However, the City manager remains cautious regarding the return of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has been sidelined since September with a cruciate ligament injury.
“He’s much, much better,” Guardiola said. “But we’ll wait for the medical team’s green light. When they say he’s ready, he’ll play but we don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
