Manchester City head into Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea with silverware once again within touching distance, but Pep Guardiola still faces a few important selection dilemmas ahead of Wembley.
The Citizens arrive in excellent form after crushing Crystal Palace 3-0 in midweek, keeping momentum alive in both the Premier League title race and their pursuit of another domestic trophy.
However, uncertainty surrounding Rodri’s fitness continues to dominate the buildup to the final.
Rodri remains major doubt for Wembley
The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder is still struggling with a groin injury and remains a serious doubt for Saturday’s showdown.
Rodri was spotted back in training ahead of Manchester City’s victory over Crystal Palace, but Guardiola opted not to include him in the matchday squad.
When asked about the Spaniard’s chances of featuring against Chelsea, Guardiola admitted he was still unsure.
“I don’t know. We’ll see in the next days,” the City manager told reporters.
If Rodri is unable to recover in time, Bernardo Silva and Nico Gonzalez are expected to continue in the holding midfield roles.
Guardiola set to unleash fresh attacking trio
Manchester City heavily rotated against Crystal Palace with one eye firmly on Wembley.
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki were all left out of the starting lineup, while Haaland was rested entirely and did not feature off the bench.
That decision now appears part of Guardiola’s wider plan to unleash his strongest attacking lineup against Chelsea’s vulnerable defence.
Doku looked sharp after coming off the bench in midweek, while Cherki also made a late cameo and should return to the starting XI alongside Haaland.
Antoine Semenyo is also expected to keep his place after another energetic display in attack.
Defensive questions remain for Man City
There was at least some positive defensive news for Guardiola this week.
Josko Gvardiol made his first appearance since January after recovering from a broken leg, although there are still doubts over whether the Croatian defender is ready to start a high-intensity final.
Nico O’Reilly is therefore expected to regain his place at left-back.
Meanwhile, Ruben Dias is pushing for a return after dealing with a hamstring issue and could yet force his way into Guardiola’s plans.
At centre-back, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi remain the most likely pairing after impressing during City’s recent winning run.
James Trafford expected to start in goal
Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma’s strong recent form, Guardiola is expected to continue with James Trafford in cup competitions.
The young English goalkeeper has featured prominently throughout Manchester City’s domestic cup run and produced an outstanding display in the Carabao Cup final earlier this season.
Trafford’s composure under pressure and distribution have earned Guardiola’s trust, making him the favourite to start at Wembley.
Man City injury news vs Chelsea
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rodri | Groin | Major doubt |
| Josko Gvardiol | Broken leg recovery | Available |
| Ruben Dias | Hamstring | Doubt |
| John Stones | Calf | Late assessment |
Man City predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Manchester City possible starting XI:
Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez; Doku, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Can Guardiola add another FA Cup trophy?
Manchester City head into the final looking like a side peaking at exactly the right moment.
Guardiola’s men have rediscovered their attacking fluency in recent weeks, while Haaland’s return to full sharpness gives City another massive edge heading into Wembley.
Chelsea have shown flashes of improvement during their FA Cup run, but City’s experience in major finals and relentless control in possession still make them firm favourites to lift the trophy.
And if Guardiola can add another FA Cup to his growing collection, it would further cement Manchester City’s dominance over English football during the modern era.