The 145th FA Cup final is set to be a defining moment for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who could be chasing his last piece of silverware with the club. Standing in his way is a Chelsea side that has endured a turbulent season, but one that has shown flashes of resilience in recent weeks.

For Chelsea, what started as a campaign full of promise has quickly unraveled into a nightmare at Stamford Bridge. The departure of head coach Enzo Maresca in January set off a rocky period under Liam Rosenior, marked by a sharp drop in both performance and professionalism among key players. Yet under interim boss Calum McFarlane, the Blues managed to edge past Leeds in the semi-finals, and a gritty 1-1 draw at Liverpool last weekend hinted at a rekindled fighting spirit. McFarlane, who also took the reins briefly after Maresca's exit, previously saw his side snatch a 1-1 draw at City in January.

Injury concerns linger for Chelsea, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez a potential return after missing the Liverpool match due to concussion. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho remain doubts, while Estevao, Jesse Derry, and Jamie Gittens are ruled out entirely.

History favors the blue side of Manchester in this matchup. Either Chelsea or City have featured in each of the last nine FA Cup finals, but success has been limited—City have lifted the trophy twice, Chelsea just once. While it would be unwise to count Chelsea out entirely, City enter as heavy favorites.

Guardiola's side may fall just short in the Premier League title race—trailing Arsenal by two points with two games to play—but a domestic cup double remains within reach. Only five teams have ever achieved this rare feat, and City are hungry to add their name to that list. They're also eager to shake off the ghosts of the past two seasons, where they lost FA Cup finals in disappointing fashion. Last year, Crystal Palace stunned them with an Eberechi Eze goal and a saved Omar Marmoush penalty, while in 2024, local rivals Manchester United delivered a painful blow.

With Guardiola's future at the club the subject of ongoing speculation, this final could be his last chance to add to his trophy cabinet. After rotating his squad for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, all eyes are on Wembley, where a win would be the perfect send-off for a manager who has defined an era at City.