Pep Guardiola will not change his approach on the back of a disappointing campaign for Manchester City.
Man City Face Nottingham Forest in Wembley on Sunday, with a place in the FA Cup final on the line.
However, that trophy is all city to save what has been a hugely frustrating season for Guardiola, whose team is fighting for the qualification of the Champions League, but good from the pace in the Premier League title race.
City, who beat Aston Villa on Tuesday in dramatic fashion, has a healthy chance of 95.7% to end in the top five, and although he has something of a rebuilding to supervise this summer, Guardiola was unclear that he will not change.
“The FA Cup victory does not give you the certainty to come back to what we were,” says Guardiola, who wants to avoid his first trophy season since his first campaign in City.
That's a title, it's a number. It would clearly be nice to finish that way, to take a small break before we go to the [Club] World Cup.
“But I will not change. It can happen to all teams in the world, not only Manchester City. It surprised me in the middle of the season, eight years to arrive at that phase.
“Now we are third in the table. There are reasons why we, perhaps unexpectedly, have fallen too much.
“I feel that next season will be better. We will compete better. We will be more who we are.”
Nottingham Forest and Manchester City have met twice in the competition this season and each have a victory to their name
Who leaves the Wembley Stadium this weekend with the victory? #Emiratesfacup pic.twitter.com/qqgidapcfd
– Emirates FA Cup (@Emiratesfacup) April 23, 2025
City wants to reach a third straight FA Cup final. They defeated Manchester United on their way to winning the Treble in 2023, but then lost to the Red Devils last season.
In fact, this will be the seventh consecutive performance of City in a semi -final of a FA Cup.
On the other hand, this is the first semifinal appearance of FA Cup since 1990-91.
Because City has already lost this period in the competition, Guardiola knows that his team is confronted with a strict test of a team that makes them balanced for the qualification of the Champions League.
“It would be good to make a third party [final] But we have a serious and tough, heavy rival, “said Guardiola.
“The Nottingham Forest people and fans, it has been a long time since they played the semi-final of the FA Cup, but we have been there in the competition for many years.
“[Nuno Espirito Santo] Has been incredible and qualified for the Europa League with wolves and now with forest. He did very well. “
Guardiola confirmed that Ederson has returned to the training, although the goalkeeper may not be suitable for appearing on Sunday.
In the meantime, Erling Haaland remains sidelined.