CHELSEA v Man City: FA Cup Final Preview

Date: Saturday sixteenth
Might 2026

Venue: Wembley Stadium

Kick-off: 15:00 BST

This
afternoon, sees Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis sq. up at Wembley for the
seventh time – and fairly than a well mannered handshake, we’re going head-to-head for
the FA Cup.

Manchester
Metropolis have already picked up the EFL Cup and will simply add a home double
this afternoon—as a result of apparently, that’s simply what the scriptwriters have in
thoughts. They’re the favourites, after all, and who may presumably argue given the
glowing kind Chelsea have proven? Chelsea, by the best way, have nabbed the FA Cup
eight occasions from their sixteen finals, however immediately Metropolis are eyeing up their very own
eighth—after, you already know, these two last mishaps towards United and Palace. No
large deal, simply one other day on the workplace.

Chelsea have been
rattling in targets on this cup prefer it’s some kind of clearance sale. The
league? Oh, that’s a special story. Clearly, the squad have been hoarding all
their ending for Wembley’s large stage. And let’s not overlook, 4 of the cup
opponents weren’t even Premier League outfits. So, actually, it’s all been a bit
of a warm-up at Butlins earlier than arriving for the correct gig. That six-game
Premier League dropping streak lastly ended with a draw towards Liverpool,
which, on condition that Villa made Liverpool look abnormal final evening, proves
Chelsea’s turnaround is—properly—open to interpretation.

In the meantime, Manchester
Metropolis appear to have remembered the place the purpose is simply because the Premier League wraps
up—timing that’s, frankly, wasted for the reason that title’s out of attain. However at the very least
their late burst may internet them one other shiny trophy. If their timing was any
higher, they’d be operating the trains out of Euston.

Since Chelsea toppled
Metropolis within the 2020-21 Champions League last, Metropolis have properly and really slammed
the door, double-locked the home windows, and doubtless fitted an alarm
system—Chelsea haven’t overwhelmed them since. So, in the event you’re anticipating the script to
flip immediately, you may wish to test your optimism for caffeine content material. However,
hey, soccer’s nothing and not using a little bit of hopeless hope, isn’t it?

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going
into immediately’s recreation, Calum McFarlane, says “The gamers have gotten the idea
they will beat anybody – we simply know that we’ve got to be the most effective model of
ourselves. Manchester Metropolis are an distinctive facet with an distinctive coach
and distinctive gamers, so it’s going to be a problem. However we even have
actually good gamers, and these gamers have proven that in the event that they’re at their
finest, they will beat anybody. We’ll attempt to maintain it as regular as doable and
try to get the identical kind of efficiency we obtained towards Leeds and Liverpool.
However, after all, it’s an enormous recreation and you’ll’t disguise away from that. All of us
wish to win.”

Manchester
Metropolis supervisor, Pep Guardiola, in the meantime says, “I would like to have seven
days like Chelsea had however if you attain the ultimate of the Carabao Cup (League
Cup) and also you win one in all these home trophies, then you may have much less days. The
schedule is what it’s. In fact, it’s not ideally suited however we did it up to now and
we’ll should do it tomorrow. The massive golf equipment, when you’re in harder
circumstances than the opponent, you do further to attempt to do it. It’s not the
good situation to arrange for the ultimate as a result of we didn’t prepare completely
something since Crystal Palace. However I rely loads on what we’ve got to do and we’re
going to attempt.

The
message (to the gamers) is how we’ve got to maneuver, run, play towards Chelsea to
beat them. It’s the FA Cup last at Wembley with two prestigious golf equipment, with
our followers that make an unbelievable effort to return all the way down to London – which immediately is
not low cost – and attempt to carry out nearly as good as doable to win.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Jamie Gittens (thigh), Jesse
Derry (head), Estevao Willian (knee) are all injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk continues
to serve a 4-year ban pending attraction. Robert Sanchez (head), Pedro Neto and Alejandro
Garnacho (each muscle) are all accessible once more.

For Manchester Metropolis, Rodri (groin)
is their solely doubt.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Doable line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; James, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Cucurella; Peter

MANCHESTER CITY (Doable line-up): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 0-3 Manchester
Metropolis (twelfth April 2026)

CURRENT FORM (ALL)

CHELSEA: LLLWLD

MANCHESTER CITY: WWWDWW

OTHER STUFF

Manchester
Metropolis have appeared within the final 3 FA Cup finals earlier than todayChelsea
are the one membership to lose 3 consecutive FA Cup finals This
is Chelsea’s seventeenth FA Cup last appearanceManchester
Metropolis haven’t misplaced of their final 13 video games towards Chelsea in all competitionsChelsea
have received eight and misplaced eight of the FA Cup finals up to now

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester Metropolis