Manchester City and Chelsea meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday in the FA Cup final, with City able to secure a second trophy of the season after the EFL Cup. Pep Guardiola insists the campaign is already a success, yet accepts that lifting the FA Cup would confirm that strong feeling.
City can still complete a domestic treble, though that depends on a late twist in the Premier League title race. Arsenal will be champions if Arsenal defeat Burnley and Crystal Palace in their final two matches. Reflecting on the wider picture, Guardiola said: "The value of the season depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you lift trophies and the season is successful.Sometimes you lift them, and the season is still really, really bad. I said a few weeks
ago, this season has been really good, really very good. "
History surrounds this FA Cup final for both clubs. Manchester City are the first team to reach four straight FA Cup finals, yet City have lost the last two showpieces, against Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace in 2025. Chelsea, meanwhile, risk matching their own unwanted record of three successive FA Cup final defeats, previously set between 2020 and 2022.
Another trophy would place City in elite company. Victory over Chelsea would make City the sixth club to win the EFL Cup and FA Cup in the same season, a group that already includes Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and City themselves. The list of previous domestic cup doubles is set out below in .
| Season | Club | Double achieved |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | Arsenal | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
| 2000-01 | Liverpool | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
| 2006-07 | Chelsea | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
| 2018-19 | Manchester City | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
| 2021-22 | Liverpool | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
| 2025-26 | Manchester City (potential) | EFL Cup and FA Cup |
One. More. Day. #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yj8ZucihasEmirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 15, 2026
Manchester City’s schedule entering the FA Cup final has been tight. City played Crystal Palace on Wednesday, while Chelsea have enjoyed a full seven days without a match. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge, explaining: "I would prefer seven days, like Chelsea, but when you reach the final of the Carabao Cup, and you win trophies, you have fewer days, Guardiola said. It has happened in the past when we won titles. It's necessary to remember, it is what it is. "
Guardiola accepted that the preparation is far from ideal but pointed to the demands on leading clubs. Guardiola said: "It is not ideal, but we have done it in the past, and we have to do it tomorrow, because the big clubs are defined where you are in more difficult circumstances and have to do extra. That is what you have to do.It is simple. It is not the perfect scenario to prepare for the final because we have not trained since the last game versus Crystal Palace. "
Chelsea, Cole Palmer and FA Cup final hopes
Chelsea enter the FA Cup final with a long negative run against Manchester City. Chelsea are winless in 13 consecutive meetings in all competitions, the longest such sequence for Chelsea against any team since a 17-match stretch without victory against Arsenal between January 1999 and March 2004. Ending that run could depend heavily on Cole Palmer, a former City academy player.
Interim Chelsea head coach Calum McFarlane strongly defended Palmer’s contribution when asked about the forward’s recent form. McFarlane replied: "I haven't said he's not at his top level. You're suggesting thatI'm not suggesting that, McFarlane said. I think he's had some really good games for us this year. He's had a lot of injuries to deal with. I was really pleased with Cole last Saturday [in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool]. I thought he had moments where he showed his level and his quality. I'm really hopeful he can produce that from now until the end of the season. He's a top player, and he's proved that many times. "
With City chasing multiple trophies and Chelsea battling a long winless sequence in this fixture, the FA Cup final offers contrasting targets for both teams. Manchester City aim to confirm a season Guardiola already rates highly, while Chelsea seek silverware and a landmark win powered by Palmer’s influence.
