“It is not cheap” – Pep Guardiola empathises with match-going fans over Wembley financial constraints

“It is not cheap” – Pep Guardiola empathises with match-going fans over Wembley financial constraints

• Guardiola says he hopes Man City can “do better than the last two times” in the FA Cup final
• Man City boss acknowledges the sacrifice of travelling fans, insisting London trip “is not cheap”
• Catalan admits he’d have preferred a week off like Chelsea but accepts it as the cost of success

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has lauded the club’s match-going fans for supporting them at Wembley despite the financial burden of trips down south.

City arrive at Wembley having beaten Crystal Palace 3-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday night – their third game in seven days – while Chelsea have had a full week at home to prepare for the biggest game of a topsy-turvy season by all accounts in south-west London.

Guardiola addressed both the occasion and the scheduling reality in his press conference on Friday, with characteristic warmth towards the Manchester City faithful making the trip to the English capital this weekend.

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City have lost their last two FA Cup finals and the 55-year-old has opened up on a desire to put that right at Wembley on Saturday.

Guardiola: Hopefully we can do better than the last two times

Asked about Saturday’s final in a press conference before his side travelled to London on Friday evening, Guardiola said: “It’s exciting! Hopefully we can do better than the last two times.”

City lost to Manchester United and Palace in their previous two FA Cup final appearances, with Guardiola having pointed to refereeing and VAR decisions as factors in both defeats.

The desire to end that run on Saturday is the clearest motivation running through this City squad heading into Wembley.

Our fans make an incredible effort, says Pep

Guardiola was equally warm when asked about the supporters making the journey from Manchester to London for the final.

The Catalan, who has raved about City’s loyal match-going fanbase throughout his decade at the Etihad Stadium, added: “Our fans make an effort, an incredible effort to come down to London – that is not cheap!”

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The acknowledgement reflects a genuine appreciation for the financial commitment City supporters have made across a season that has taken them to Wembley thrice so far – the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March, April’s FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton and Saturday’s final against Chelsea.

Guardiola has consistently spoken about the importance of the home support at the Etihad Stadium but rarely misses an opportunity to recognise what the travelling fans gives the team.

Guardiola: I would prefer seven days of rest like Chelsea

The Catalan has touched on the disparity in fixture congestion between the two sides heading into Saturday’s final, stating that Chelsea “have been home all week” whilst City have battled on in the title race.

“I would prefer seven days like Chelsea had, but when you reach the final of the Carabao Cup and you win one of these domestic trophies, you have less days,” Guardiola said.

The logic is simple and typically Guardiola – the compressed schedule is a direct consequence of success and he would not trade that success for extra rest.