Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Manchester City's season should be considered a success—regardless of whether they lift the Premier League trophy or Saturday's FA Cup against Chelsea.
As City prepare for their fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance at Wembley, Guardiola's side finds themselves in a familiar battle on two fronts. While the Premier League and Champions League are always the primary targets, this season has tested that ambition.
After a shock Champions League exit to Real Madrid in the round of 16 back in March, City now trail Arsenal by five points in the title race—though that gap could shrink to two if they beat Bournemouth on Tuesday. But even then, Arsenal would control their own destiny, needing just a win at Crystal Palace on May 24 to secure their first English title since 2004.
Still, Guardiola refuses to let silverware define the narrative. "It depends on the trophies you lift," he said. "Sometimes you lift trophies and the season has been successful. Sometimes, you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad. I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good."
City have already claimed the League Cup by beating Arsenal, giving them a shot at a domestic double this weekend. But Guardiola's focus remains on the performance, not just the prize. "It is the final of the FA Cup. The message is there are two prestigious clubs at Wembley. Our fans make an incredible effort to come down to London. We try to perform as much as possible to win."
After resting key players like Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku in midweek, Guardiola is expected to field a full-strength lineup against Chelsea—prioritizing the final over the title chase. City have lost their last two FA Cup finals, against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, but Guardiola is confident this team can rewrite that story.
For fans and players alike, this weekend isn't just about trophies—it's about proving that a season's worth can't always be measured by what's lifted at the final whistle.