Guardiola plays down treble talk as Manchester City reach historic FA Cup final

Manchester City reach fourth consecutive FA Cup final with 2-1 win over Southampton
Pep Guardiola says domestic treble remains “far away” despite strong position
Late goals complete comeback after Southampton took shock lead at Wembley

Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City are still “far away” from completing a domestic treble despite reaching a record fourth consecutive FA Cup final.

City secured their place at Wembley with a 2-1 comeback victory over Southampton, setting up a final against either Chelsea or Leeds United on May 16.

The result keeps alive the possibility of a clean sweep of domestic trophies, with City already having lifted the Carabao Cup and still competing at the top of the Premier League. However, Guardiola was quick to downplay talk of another treble.

“Too much, far away,” he said. “Before the final weekend I would say maybe, but now it is far away. Now we start a new season for five games plus the final.”

Southampton appeared on course for a shock result when Finn Azaz put them ahead late in the game. But City responded with goals from Jérémy Doku and Nico González to turn the tie around and maintain their pursuit of silverware.

The victory marks a historic achievement, with City becoming the first team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals.

Guardiola praised the consistency of his squad across his decade in charge, highlighting sustained success across multiple competitions.

“What defines the club is this consistency,” he said. “Winning cups and reaching finals again and again shows what this team has done.”

City will now turn their attention back to the Premier League title race before returning to Wembley for the final, as they aim to finish the season strongly across all fronts.

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.