Chelsea v Man City LIVE: FA Cup final build-up and team news as Blues make late call on trio

In partnership with

The Independent

·16 de mayo de 2026

Chelsea v Man City LIVE: FA Cup final build-up and team news as Blues make late call on trio

Chelsea vs Manchester City

Chelsea take on vs Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final as both teams look to add to their hefty tallies in the competition.

The Blues, who have won the FA Cup eight times with eight different managers, are looking to make it nine in nine at Wembley with interim boss Calum McFarlane in charge. Chelsea beat Leeds 1-0 in their semi-final courtesy of Enzo Fernandez’s header.

OneFootball Videos

Seven-time winners City, meanwhile, are in their fourth consecutive Cup final but have lost their last two against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. City edged past Championship side Southampton in the semi-finals with Nico Gonzalez scoring a late screamer to win the game.

City outclassed Chelsea in their last encounter, winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, but cause for optimism lies in McFarlane’s personal record against Pep Guardiola: in a match at the Etihad in January, Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw.

Mike Jones16 May 2026 11:00

Pedro Neto in line to be fit for Chelsea in FA Cup final

Pedro Neto of Chelsea during a training session at on Friday 15 May (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Cole Palmer of Chelsea during a training session the day before the FA Cup final (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Levi Colwill of Chelsea during a training session the day before the FA Cup final (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Jack Rathborn16 May 2026 10:29

Guardiola jokes Wembley should name a stand after him

Pep Guardiola will be taking charge of his 24th match at Wembley Stadium this afternoon and joked that he has been to the ground so often he should have a stand named after him.

“Yeah, I’m so disappointed English football that they don’t make a stand to Pep!” said the Man City boss.

“Many times I’ve been there, at least a lounge or a box or something like that. Maybe I go 24 more times. It’s a special place definitely.

“Since Barcelona when we won the first Champions League with my club. And after with United in the second time with Barcelona as a manager and many times since I am here we going there semi-finals, finals, win, lose, lose, win.

“It’s really good to go to Wembley again at 3pm, FA Cup, the two teams with the two managers. And [the organisation] is really good. It’s a good game, it’s top.”

McFarlane 'happy' with Chelsea players

“I’ve actually been happy with the whole group, the way the whole group has responded,” said Calum McFarlane who was speaking about the reaction from the Chelsea players after Liam Rosenior was sacked.

“Players in the squad, players out of the squad. The level of professionalism that’s been shown at all times.

“There’s obviously players with great experience in there who have played in big competitions, had big moments in their career. You want their opinion, to know how they feel about the game.

“You want to have that dialogue with those players. I have that with pretty much the whole squad.”

Mike Jones16 May 2026 10:12

Why the FA Cup final no one wanted says so much about the modern game

In another era, Calum McFarlane’s appearance at Wembley would be viewed as a vintage piece of FA Cup lore. Here he is on English football’s national day, with the chance to be the first English manager to win the competition since Harry Redknapp in 2008, and in just his sixth game as a coach.

Donning the suit for the final was an image that so many managers long dreamed of. Brian Clough famously only got to do it two years from retirement, and never won the FA Cup. A novice like McFarlane now stands 90 minutes from glory, with the challenge of having to out-coach a great like Pep Guardiola only adding to the story.

Miguel Delaney16 May 2026 10:00

Guardiola on City's Wembley gameplan

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of today’s FA Cup final and revealed what message he had given his players for the game.

“The message is how we have to move, run, play against Chelsea to beat them,” Guardiola said.

“This is the message. The message is [this is the] FA Cup final, at Wembley, with two prestigious clubs, with our fans that make an effort, an incredible effort to come down to London [and it is] not cheap.

“And go to support us and try to perform as best as possible to win. And always there is a game plan you have to do.”

Speculation persists over Pep Guardiola’s future (Martin Rickett/PA). (PA Wire)

Mike Jones16 May 2026 09:48

'I'm sure I'll feel the emotions'

Managing a team in the FA Cup final is not something that comes around too often and for Calum McFarlane he is unsure how he’ll feel today.

The interim Chelsea boss said: “I can’t tell you exactly how I’m going to feel on the day.

“I’ll try to make it as normal as possible. I’ve taken a few games now at this level. Not a game of this magnitude.

“I’ll try and stay as level as possible. The players, the process, the way we work will be the same. I’m sure I’ll feel a lot of emotions on that day.”