Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that winning the FA Cup could be essential in mitigating the fallout of a disappointing season for Manchester City.
With the club out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup and fighting for a place in the Premier League’s top 4 spot, the domestic cup is now their only realistic shot at silverware.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Wembley, Guardiola didn’t shy away from the harsh reality of the season.
“We have to make the final first,” he said. “Too many matches this season have not been good. We will avoid bigger damage for the club if we win the FA Cup.”
City, the defending Premier League champions, trail leaders Liverpool by 18 points and are in a tight battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League. The club was eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the fourth round and exited the Champions League in the playoff stage at the hands of Real Madrid.
“The FA Cup keeps us safe,” Guardiola acknowledged. “But the Premier League dictates how good your season has been, and it has not been good.
Still, it could be worse. It’s in our hands, and we have an opportunity to be three in a row in the final of the FA Cup. Hopefully, we can do it.”
Their opponents, Nottingham Forest, are enjoying a remarkable resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest are just one point behind City in the league and are chasing Champions League qualification for the first time since 1980. Sunday’s clash marks Forest’s first FA Cup semifinal appearance since 1991.
Guardiola was full of praise for Forest and their manager. “He has been incredible, qualifying for the Europa League with Wolves and now pushing Forest,” he said.
“They have top players, they defend well, and the spirit is strong. The owner has invested well, and the results speak for themselves.”
With City’s hopes of silverware hanging in the balance, the pressure is on. The FA Cup now represents more than a trophy, it’s a potential lifeline in a season that has fallen far below the club’s usual standards.
