Pep Guardiola dismisses the idea that winning the FA Cup was not a priority for Manchester City at the beginning of the season. The coach insists on the importance of his players lifting the trophy this Saturday.
Guardiola’s team, after a season with ups and downs, missed out on the Premier League title and the Champions League. However, Guardiola rejects the notion that winning the FA Cup is irrelevant for a team accustomed to achieving great things.
El City se enfrentará al Crystal Palace en Wembley el sábado, buscando ganar la competición por octava vez en su historia.
That’s the problem, the FA Cup is not the first option now. Of course we want it. Now we are here, we want to lift the trophy. We are disappointed with our performances this season, but I am sure we will play well and compete against them [Palace]. It is definitely important.
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola emphasizes that the team must be present and win the previous matches to have the opportunity to lift the trophy, something they have achieved on multiple occasions.
Guardiola has no new injury concerns ahead of the final. In a press conference on Friday, the City manager was asked about the possibility of Rodri being on the bench at Wembley.
The midfielder has been out since September due to a knee injury, but he has now returned to training. After the FA Cup final, City has two more Premier League matches against Bournemouth and Fulham before flying to the United States in June for the Club World Cup.
I am waiting for the doctors. When they tell me it’s ready, it will start. We don’t want to take risks and cause a setback.
Pep Guardiola
Meanwhile, Guardiola refused to answer questions about Florian Wirtz, a summer transfer target.
Sources indicate that City has contacted Wirtz’s representatives, with the German midfielder considered as a possible successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
It’s not the time to talk about it before the FA Cup final. I have 24 exceptional players, I don’t want to talk about the future for a second.
Pep Guardiola
