The stage is set for a thrilling FA Cup final at Wembley, as Manchester City and Chelsea have both unveiled their starting lineups. Pep Guardiola's City side are hungry for a second domestic trophy this season, having already secured the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign. For Chelsea, this final offers a chance to rescue a season that has been nothing short of a struggle.
City enter the match with near-full squad strength, a luxury that puts Guardiola in an enviable position for the showpiece event. The only lingering concern is Rodri, the Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder who traveled with the team but whose availability remained uncertain after Guardiola's cautious update yesterday. Beyond Rodri, the squad is in peak condition.
Guardiola has made five changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace 3-0, bringing in James Trafford, Nico O'Reilly, Rodri, Jeremy Doku, and Erling Haaland. Key players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Phil Foden, and Savinho drop to the bench, while Josko Gvardiol is absent from the squad entirely after starting the last match.
The biggest boost for City is Rodri's return to the starting lineup for the first time in five games. Having their most influential player back on the pitch for a final is a massive advantage, and it sets the tone for a high-stakes clash at Wembley.
Manchester City Starting XI: James Trafford, Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland.
Substitutes: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Cherki, Savinho, Foden.