Pep Guardiola has emphasized that winning the FA Cup would still be a significant achievement for Manchester City, even though it would not fully compensate for what he described as a disappointing season by the club’s high standards.

City, who were dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool for the first time in five years, are at risk of a trophyless campaign unless they defeat Crystal Palace in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Speaking ahead of the final, Guardiola acknowledged the importance of the occasion: “This is our third year in a row in the FA Cup Final, which is something we are very, very proud of.

In the FA Cup, you play all the top teams from the Premier League and the Championship and always there are times when it is difficult. To have made three Finals in a row shows how consistent we have been. It says everything about this generation of players and the club itself”.

Despite City’s struggles this season-including injury setbacks and a fight to secure a Champions League spot-Guardiola insisted that the team is fully focused on lifting the trophy.

“It is massively important. But to win the trophy you have to be there. And to have to be there, you have to win previous games. And we have done it for many, many years in the last years,” he said.

City’s squad has been boosted by the return of Erling Haaland, who is expected to start after recovering from injury, although he did not score in the recent goalless draw against Southampton5. Guardiola also confirmed that while Kevin De Bruyne is available, he will not risk Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is still recovering from a serious knee injury and will not play again this season.

For Manchester City, victory in the FA Cup final would mark their eighth triumph in the competition and provide a positive end to what Guardiola has described as the “toughest season” of his career.

However, the manager was clear that while the trophy is important, it cannot fully mask the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title and other objectives this year1.

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