View from the Opposition: Guardiola on prospect of facing Palace

News

16 May 2025

Crystal Palace are in the third FA Cup Final in our history on Saturday, 17th May (16:30 BST), where the Eagles take on 2024 runners-up Manchester City - this is what Pep Guardiola had to say ahead of the game...

Factfile

Manager: Pep Guardiola
Position: 4th
Nickname: The Citizens
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Founded: 1880 (145 years ago)

Guardiola has led Manchester City to three FA Cup finals already during his time as manager at the Etihad Stadium, winning two of those.

He has also won a minimum of one major trophy in every season since he has been in the managerial hotseat at City, since his first campaign in 2016/17.

Ahead of the third meeting between the two sides this season - and the first ever at Wembley - the Catalan was full of respect for the Palace team and his opposite number, Oliver Glasner.

“It is a fantastic team,” said the City boss. "They [Crystal Palace] have had a good season, particularly the second part of the season. More than a year Oliver [has been] working with the same players.

“It’s final of the FA Cup, an honour and privilege, to play a third time in-a-row. Of course we have to perform well. We travel to London and we will try to win the title.

"They have pace, they have real quality. [Jean-Philippe] Mateta is strong on long balls and after that I would say their quality with [Ebere] Eze is obvious.

“Ismaïla Sarr in the semi-final punished Aston Villa a lot. He has incredible pace, but not just him, also Muñoz. [Adam] Wharton is a really good holding midfielder who links well.

“It is a final. If we played against Villa it would be the same, we cannot expect differently."

Guardiola's team fell short 12 months ago in the final, losing to neighbours Manchester United, but he expects a different City performance this time around.

"It's massively important to us to win this trophy," he added. I'm sure we will perform well and we will compete against them.

"I want to say thank you so much for the effort of the fans who travel to come and support us in London.

"It is better to be winning than losing. Last season was special [circumstances] because we had just won the Premier League, the fourth in-a-row.

"Maybe our mindset for that game wasn't perfect. We didn't create much, we lost it. In finals it happens, but we were there in the final and one year later we are here again."

Get ready for Wembley!

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Manchester City

Saturday, 17th May
16:30 BST
FA Cup Final
Wembley Stadium
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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