Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City fans to be on their best behaviour and also take the right amount of beer at Wembley stadium on Saturday, June 3, when the club faces Manchester United in the FA Cup final for the first time.
There is heightened tension because United have a chance to stop City from securing a treble to match their 1999 record. There were 34 arrests when the teams met in the semi-finals at Wembley in 2011 and authorities will be hoping to avoid a repeat.
Kick-off was moved forward to 3 pm at the Metropolitan police’s request because of the high-risk nature of the fixture.
Victory for City would leave them just one game (next weekend’s Champions League final against Inter Milan) away from only the second-ever treble in English football history.
Speaking to Manchester City fans ahead of the match, Guardiola said;
“I will ask our fans to behave properly first and, secondly, go there to enjoy an incredible event. The players will give everything to beat Man United. The consequences and the result, who knows? I don’t know. Erik ten Hag doesn’t know it, so it’s going to be a football game. Enjoy the moment. When the people travel – unfortunately with the train strikes – enjoy [the occasion] and enjoy next week to prepare the [Champions League] final, dream to see the team. It’s the best way.
“It’s a football game, everything can happen. We will do everything to beat United. I understand completely that City fans were in the shadow [of United] for decades, behind United, playing the first time in the history of the FA Cup a final against them. Try to do the best game possible. Have fun, enjoy the right portion of beers before the game and that’s all.”
City has not won the FA Cup since 2019 when they thrashed Watford in the final. Another winner’s medal would be an 11th major trophy for Guardiola at City.
