Manchester City head into Saturday’s FA Cup final knowing victory over Chelsea would secure another domestic cup double under Pep Guardiola. For some supporters, anything less than the biggest prizes may feel underwhelming given the club’s extraordinary dominance over the past decade, while others still remember the lean years and will cherish any opportunity to lift silverware.
The importance of Wembley is reflected in Guardiola’s likely team selection. Although he rotated heavily for the midweek win over Crystal Palace, the City manager is expected to unleash his strongest available lineup for the showdown with Chelsea.
Here we take a look at the four players Guardiola can’t leave out of the time for the game at Wembley.
Nico O'Reilly
The young left-back has continued his rapid rise since last season, reaching new levels and establishing himself as a regular starter on the left side of defence.
His form this campaign has been exceptional, frequently drifting into midfield and making late runs into the box during attacking phases, a major reason behind his impressive return of nine goals and six assists. With numbers like those, there is a strong argument that Nico O’Reilly has already secured his place in the starting lineup at Wembley on Saturday.
It was only back in February that he turned Wembley into his own stage, scoring twice in the EFL Cup final and bringing an end to any talk of a quadruple in North London.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker spent the Crystal Palace match bubble-wrapped on the bench, a move that sent FPL managers into dismay, all to let Omar Marmoush have his brief moment in the sun.
But a rested Haaland is a terrifying prospect; he will be hoping to break a curse by scoring for the first time at Wembley. Even with Jeremy Doku’s fancy footwork and Antoine Semenyo’s recent "main character" energy, the striker remains City’s number one undisputed when it comes to striker options.
Rayan Cherki
The French maverick has truly flourished since the turn of the year, becoming one of the Premier League’s most entertaining players and bringing excitement to both Manchester City supporters and neutral fans alike. He plays with a swagger and technical brilliance that at times feels like a blend of an in-form Phil Foden and David Silva.
While Foden’s two assists against Crystal Palace in midweek may have strengthened his case, they are unlikely to be enough to secure a starting place at Wembley. Cherki appears certain to feature, alongside Bernardo Silva and potentially the returning Rodri in midfield.
Abdukodir Khusanov
Pep Guardiola’s admiration for Abdukodir Khusanov was clear to see after the win over Crystal Palace, with the City manager spotted giving the defender an animated post-match lesson, perhaps already preparing him for the challenge of dealing with Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer at Wembley.
The Uzbek international may look like a shy kid in the playground, but when attackers run at him he becomes an immovable force. He has seemingly made the right-sided centre-back role his own alongside Marc Guehi, and even with Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias returning to fitness, Khusanov still looks certain to start Saturday’s final.
After a difficult introduction last season, there were doubts surrounding whether he could cope at the highest level. This campaign, however, he has silenced those questions completely, making the game look effortless while adapting brilliantly to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.
Add us as a preferred source on Google