The FA Cup final at Wembley this weekend is not only a confrontation between the two "big guys" of English football, but also has a very different meaning for both Manchester City and Chelsea.
For Man City, this may be the last chance for Pep Guardiola to add more titles to his massive collection. Meanwhile, for Chelsea, the FA Cup is almost the only hope to save a chaotic season.
Titles for the present and future of Man City
As hopes of defending the Premier League title gradually become slim, attention at Etihad is shifting more towards the future, and also the possibility of Guardiola leaving the club after a decade of attachment.
If this is really Guardiola's last season at Man City, the FA Cup final against Chelsea could become a milestone closing a glorious era.
After winning the Carabao Cup thanks to a victory against Arsenal, Man City is facing the opportunity to complete a domestic cup double. Guardiola clearly also has careful preparation when leaving many key players such as Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki or Jeremy Doku in the win against Crystal Palace in the middle of the week.
Besides the title factor, this match is also of great significance to the new generation of The Citizens players.
After the historic treble in 2023, Guardiola's squad has changed significantly. Many veterans have left and been replaced by new faces such as Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo or Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Guardiola has repeatedly emphasized that the new generation of players needs to learn how to win - something that helped Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan or Kevin De Bruyne create a period of dominance in the past.
According to young midfielder Nico O'Reilly, the desire to win titles is still an indispensable part of Man City's dressing room.
After a previous season without titles, the Carabao Cup championship helped the team regain the feeling of victory, and the FA Cup is seen as the next step to build bravery for the next generation.
Guardiola currently still has a one-year contract with Man City, and the club is said to still hope that he will continue to be attached for at least another season. However, if the Spanish coach really leaves in the summer, he will almost certainly leave behind a team capable of continuing to compete at the top of European football.
Chelsea's last chance to save the season
If asked at the beginning of the season, most Chelsea fans would probably be satisfied with a place in the FA Cup final. But no one thought this would become a rare highlight in a turbulent season for the London team.
Chelsea has gone through a chaotic campaign with three generations of coaches, erratic Premier League performance, early elimination in the Champions League and continuously receiving criticism for their club operation.
The Blues are currently in the middle of the rankings and almost have no chance of winning a Champions League spot through the Premier League. In that context, the FA Cup becomes the last lifeline, not only in terms of titles but also an opportunity for Chelsea to return to the European arena next season.
Ironically, the Chelsea manager at Wembley is still interim coach Calum McFarlane. The U21 team strategist once drew 1-1 with Man City at the Etihad in January in his first time leading the first team after Enzo Maresca was sacked. At that time, Chelsea even created a higher expected goal score (xG) than the home team.
However, McFarlane's subsequent period was not too impressive. Chelsea beat Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals but in general still lacked stability in the Premier League.
To create a surprise against Man City, Chelsea will need an excellent performance from key players such as Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer or Joao Pedro. Or simply a match where the whole team plays with a spirit that goes beyond limits.
At the present time, the role of underdog may be more suitable for Chelsea than ever. The FA Cup has also not brought many beautiful memories to The Blues in recent years. They have lost the last 3 finals at Wembley, against Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool.
The last time Chelsea lifted the FA Cup took place in 2018 after a victory over Manchester United.
This time, they will need more than tactics or form - perhaps a bit of magic - if they want to save the season considered one of the most disappointing periods of the club in many years.
