FA Cup final: Guardiola says Crystal Palace clash is ‘massively important’ for Manchester City

Pep Guardiola insists the FA Cup is “massively important” to Manchester City as they look to finish a disappointing season on a high.

City started the campaign with high hopes of landing a fifth successive Premier League title and having another run deep into the Champions League.

Real Madrid ended their European adventure at the playoff stage while they are still not certain of even qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition next season.

The FA Cup has taken on added importance therefore and Guardiola was quick to play down the narrative that tomorrow’s final means more to their opponents Crystal Palace, who have never won a major trophy.

He said: “Of course we want it. Once we are here of course we want the trophy. It is massively important.”

PEP We want to win for our fans. The guys who travel, I want to say thank you for coming to London. Winning is much better than losing, but last year we came into it having won four in a row and maybe our mind was not perfect. But one year later, we are there again. pic.twitter.com/FJJqeo09jC

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 16, 2025

Guardiola wary of resurgent Palace

Victory will be far from straightforward, however, with Palace a club on the rise under Oliver Glasner.

“It is a fantastic team,” added Guardiola. “They have had a really good second part of the season. They have had more than a year with Oliver [Glasner] working with the same players. 

“It’s the final of the FA Cup, it’s an honour and a privilege. Third time in a row being there and we have to perform well. We travel to London to win the title.”

City will be hoping to perform better than they did 12 months ago when they surprisingly went down 2-1 to Manchester United.

Guardiola said: “Winning is much better than losing. But you learn from losing. Last season was special because three or four days before we won the Premier League for the fourth time in a row so maybe our mindset was not perfect.

“The team didn’t have bad play, some decisions went against us. We lost it, in finals it happens. It was important we were there and again one year later we are there again.”

Rodri getting closer to much-anticipated return

Guardiola said he will use the same squad as the one that struggled to a 0-0 draw at already relegated Southampton last weekend but did reveal 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was “much, much better”.

The Spain international is unlikely to play at Wembley but is edging closer to fitness having been out since September.