Manchester City are on the brink of history as they face Chelsea in today's FA Cup final at Wembley, aiming to complete a domestic cup double and secure their second trophy of the 2025-26 season. Pep Guardiola's squad enters their fourth consecutive FA Cup final—an unprecedented achievement in English football—but they'll be eager to reverse a frustrating trend after falling short in their last two finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Standing in their way is a Chelsea side that, despite a disappointing campaign under caretaker manager Calum McFarlane, remains dangerous on their day thanks to the individual quality running through their squad. For City to lift the famous old trophy, they'll need to be at their sharpest—and the good news for Guardiola is that he's close to having a full-strength squad to choose from.
The only fitness concern revolves around midfield anchor Rodri. Guardiola confirmed that his "midfield general" would travel with the squad, but stopped short of declaring him available after missing the past five matches. Beyond that, it's a clean bill of health—a luxury that has Guardiola's side in a strong position heading into the showpiece event.
Rotation was the name of the game in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, with several key players rested and ready to go at Wembley. The biggest selection dilemma lies in midfield. Nico O'Reilly has been absent for the last two matches, while Bernardo Silva has stepped into the number six role with impressive composure. With Josko Gvardiol now fit, one possibility sees Gvardiol slotting in at left-back, freeing up O'Reilly to push into midfield. Meanwhile, Phil Foden's sparkling form against Palace has him knocking on the door for a starting spot, potentially alongside Rayan Cherki to support Bernardo in the engine room.
Beyond those midfield calculations, the rest of the lineup largely picks itself. Guardiola has a settled spine and a wealth of in-form options, setting the stage for a tactical chess match at Wembley. Will City's depth and experience prove the difference, or can Chelsea's raw talent spring a surprise? All signs point to a final that could come down to the finest of margins.