18/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 18, 2026

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P EP GUARDIOLA hopes Manchester City’s FA Cup final victory against Chelsea can help propel them to a miraculous Premier League title tri umph. Guardiola’s side won the FA Cup for the first time since 2023 thanks to Antoine Semenyo’s audacious back-flicked goal in the second half at Wembley on Saturday. The 1-0 win made it a domestic double for City, who beat Arsenal in the League Cup final in March. Now City can focus on their last two games of the League season as they look to catch leaders Arsenal. The Gunners are firm favourites to be crowned champions and will wrap up the title if they beat Burnley tomorrow (3am Malaysian time) and win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. But second-placed City, just two points behind Arsenal, are lying in wait if Mikel Arteta’s team slip up. If City win at Bournemouth and beat Aston Villa at home on the final day, they could take the title if Arsenal drop points their matches. With that in mind, Guardiola was quick to put the celebrations on ice after the 20th tro phy of his glittering 10-year reign was wrapped up at Wembley. “Home – not even one beer,” he said of halting the party in City’s dressing room. “Next Monday, after Aston Villa, we’re going to cele brate with the women’s team with a parade in Manchester, but no, we do not have time now. “We have only three days (before Bournemouth). Chelsea had seven days to pre pare for the final. We had three days and yester day was a nightmare. “We spent literally six hours getting from Manchester to here. The trains are a little bit of a problem in this country. Six hours!” Having guided City to the title six times in the last eight years, Guardiola knows it will take a remarkable turnaround to snatch the trophy from Arsenal’s grasp. But regardless of the conclusion of the title race, Guardiola is confident City are in better shape than 12 months ago when they finished the 2024-25 season without silverware. Guardiola believes the key contributions of Semenyo and Marc Guehi, signed from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace during the January transfer window – along with the devel opment of Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly – shows City can return to the top next term. “I took time to click something. I missed something during the process. We had the feel ing in the last few months that we had some sta bility with the team that we maybe didn’t have in the past,” he said. “There were a lot of new players, injured players. Sometimes you need a little more time. But the highest competition doesn’t wait. “In the Champions League we lost to a really, really good opponent in Real Madrid. But in the rest of the competitions we behaved extraordi nary. The future is bright. “I know the guys. I know how they feel, the commitment for the club. I’m pretty sure we will be there for the next years.” Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane urged his side to bounce back from the final defeat in a “massive” clash with Tottenham on Wednesday (3.15am). The Blues remain without a domestic trophy since 2018 and are in severe danger of failing to qualify for Europe next season. Winless in their last seven Premier League matches, McFarlane’s men are languishing in ninth place and host struggling Tottenham in their last chance to salvage a turbulent cam

Semenyo delivers for City

paign. Even a win over their London rivals might not be enough to save Chelsea’s Europa League bid depending on the results of the teams above them. Asked what it would mean for Chelsea to fail to qualify for Europe, both financially and in sporting terms, McFarlane said: “You’re asking an interim coach what the implications of the club are going to be. I’m not privy to that infor mation. “My job is to prepare the team for games and training, which I’ll be doing for Spurs, which is a massive game for this club.” After numerous reports of dressing room unrest this season, McFarlane insisted Chelsea’s determined display against City showed his players remain committed to the cause. “It’s a really talented group. Lots of quality in that group” he said. “The fight and heart has been questioned at times, but the last two performances, I don’t think you can question that. “I think they gave everything today to try and win that trophy for the club.” Despite McFarlane’s lack of experience, the former U-21 coach’s tactics caused City boss Guardiola some issues before Semenyo finally broke the deadlock. “Evenly matched game, both teams had moments of control and momentum. I felt we went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the world,” McFarlane said. “We didn’t have that momentum of quality to get in front. We know what this teams is capable of. We haven’t shown that enough this season.” – AFP … but Guardiola puts celebrations on ice in Premier League title push

Salah admits Reds ‘crumbled’

- Story on page 30

Antoine Semenyo celebrates with the FA Cup trophy after Man City defeated Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. – REUTERSPIC

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