Pep Guardiola has put any hint of celebration on hold after Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph, insisting his players will not so much as have a beer as they refocus on the Premier League title race.
City completed a domestic cup double with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley, adding the FA Cup to their earlier Carabao Cup success against Arsenal. Yet the manager’s attention has already shifted to the final week of the league season.
“Home. Not even one beer,” Guardiola said after the final. “Next Monday, after Aston Villa, we’re going to celebrate it properly — with the women’s team, with a parade in Manchester.”
City face a decisive trip to Bournemouth before hosting Aston Villa on the final day, with Guardiola chasing another league title to crown the campaign. He framed the run-in as a fitting send-off for departing senior players John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
“Especially for John and Bernardo, who are leaving in two games,” he said.
“Hopefully we can arrive at the last day with the chance to fight for the Premier League and give them the best possible tribute.”
Silva, the club captain, is set to end a nine-year spell at the Etihad Stadium, while Stones departs after a decade of service.
Preparations for the final were far from smooth, with Guardiola revealing a disrupted journey to London following rail delays caused by a fire near Nuneaton. “The travel was a nightmare — it took six hours to arrive,” he said.
There was, however, no disruption to City’s focus. The message from Guardiola is clear: the party can wait. The title cannot.
