Wembley should ‘make a stand to Pep’ I have been there so often, jokes Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has joked there should be a stand at Wembley named after him as he prepares for Manchester City’s fourth successive FA Cup final.

City face Chelsea on Saturday in what will be their 24th game at the national stadium as a neutral venue since Guardiola took over as manager in 2016.

It will also be their third visit in the space of eight weeks after the Carabao Cup final in March and last month’s semi-final victory.

For Guardiola, it continues a long association with the ground that began in 1992 when he was part of the Barcelona side that won the club’s first European Cup there.

“I’m so disappointed that English football doesn’t make a stand to Pep, so many times I’ve been there,” said the 55-year-old, who was also in charge of Barca when they beat Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.

“Or at least a lounge or a box or something like that. Maybe if I go 24 more times…

“It’s been a special place, obviously, with Barcelona in 1992 when we won the first Champions League with my club, and after with United the second time with Barcelona as a manager.

“Many times since I’ve been with semi-finals and finals. It’s really good to go to Wembley again.”

City will be strong favourites to overcome a Chelsea side that have lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions and sacked manager Liam Rosenior last month.

Yet City have been stung in the past two finals by United and Crystal Palace.

Guardiola said: “There is definitely excitement, of course. Hopefully we can do better than the last two times, but they’re forgotten.

“It’s a new game against Chelsea and we have to try to raise the trophy.”

The game interrupts City’s Premier League run-in as they remain in contention for the title with two matches remaining.

They face a must-win game against Bournemouth on Tuesday as they bid to retain hope of overhauling Arsenal, yet Guardiola said that match will have “zero” impact on his cup final preparations.

The match comes amid continuing speculation Guardiola could leave the club this summer.

There were reports this week that two of his backroom staff have already decided to move on.

Guardiola responded with sarcasm when asked whether the departures could have implications for his own future.

“No, I extended the contracts of all of them for three more years,” he said.

Asked if this was really the case, he said: “No!”