SoccerFeature
Pep drops hint about his future after 20th major Man City trophy
Pep Guardiola hints at a bright future for Man City after winning his 20th trophy with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
Sky Sports1 min read
Sports
Manchester City’s FA Cup glory: where final against Chelsea was won and lost
TL;DR
Manchester City faced Chelsea in the FA Cup final, where Pep Guardiola's choice to start Omar Marmoush over Rayan Cherki backfired. Marmoush's ineffective performance led to a lack of connection in City's attack, prompting a halftime substitution.
Key points
- Manchester City faced Chelsea in the FA Cup final
- Pep Guardiola started Omar Marmoush over Rayan Cherki
- Marmoush's performance disrupted City's attack
- Guardiola substituted Marmoush at halftime
- Chelsea absorbed pressure during the first half
Mentioned in this story
Pep Guardiola
Manchester CityChelseaOmar MarmoushRayan Cherki
1
Marmoush experiment fails to come off
It was not quite at the level of not playing Fernandinho or Rodri against Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2021, but Pep Guardiola’s decision to start Omar Marmoush over Rayan Cherki was certainly an unexpected call. Pushed high and told to operate alongside Erling Haaland, Marmoush struggled to make an impact. The Egypt forward’s positioning was off, disrupting the connection between City’s midfield and attack. They lacked a link player, making it easy for Chelsea to absorb pressure during the first half of a disappointing final, and it was not a surprise when Guardiola replaced Marmoush with Cherki at half-time.
2
Chelsea system causes problems for City …
Even then there was still no sign of an improvement from City at the start of the second half. Chelsea grew into the game after a nervous start and there were times when they looked the likelier winners. Calum McFarlane, the interim head coach taking charge of only his sixth game in senior football, had come up trumps by deploying a back three. Reece James and Moisés Caicedo were strong in midfield. The wing-backs, Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella, defended well and caused problems. City grew edgy. Nico O’Reilly looked vulnerable at left-back and Chelsea had some joy against Guardiola’s high line. João Pedro played on the shoulder of the last man and led the line well before tiring during the latter stages.
3
… but the attack fails to deliver
They showed some pride at Wembley but Chelsea will still finish a chaotic season empty handed. A lack of conviction in the final third was their undoing in the end. João Pedro scuffed a decent chance in the first half and Caicedo had a header cleared off the line. Enzo Fernández volleyed over moments after City went ahead and while there were a few flashes from Cole Palmer, his decision-making was below par. Ultimately City found that crucial dash of class through Antoine Semenyo’s late winner, although Chelsea will look back on a few refereeing decisions and wonder if they should have had at least one penalty. Abdukodir Khusanov, a defender who does not know how to hold back, certainly strayed close to the line with a couple of shoulder barges on Jorrel Hato and João Pedro in the area. McFarlane fumed when Darren England waved both appeals away.
Q&A
Why did Pep Guardiola start Omar Marmoush in the FA Cup final against Chelsea?
Pep Guardiola's decision to start Omar Marmoush was unexpected and aimed at enhancing City's attack alongside Erling Haaland.
What impact did Omar Marmoush have in the FA Cup final against Chelsea?
Omar Marmoush struggled to make an impact, disrupting the connection between City's midfield and attack, which allowed Chelsea to absorb pressure.
What changes did Guardiola make at halftime during the FA Cup final?
At halftime, Guardiola replaced Omar Marmoush with Rayan Cherki in an attempt to improve City's attacking performance.
How did Manchester City's tactics affect their performance in the FA Cup final?
City's tactics, particularly the choice of Marmoush, led to a lack of a link player, making it difficult for them to break down Chelsea's defense.
