Pep Guardiola said winning the FA Cup would still be signficant for Manchester City, even if victory in Saturday’s final will not mask a disappointing season by their own high standards.
City were deposed as Premier League champions by Liverpool for the first time in five years and are facing a first trophyless season since Guardiola’s debut campaign in 2016/17 if they do not beat Crystal Palace in this weekend’s showpiece match at Wembley.
Indeed, Guardiola’s men, with two league games remaining, face a fight just to finish in the top five of the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification.
But the City manager insisted Friday all of the club’s focus was fixed on lifting a trophy in their third consecutive FA Cup final.