Pep Guardiola knew the figure off by heart. 31 points. Without a beat.
“People think it’s going to happen because we finished 31 points in front of United, so people say it will be easy. I understand that,” Guardiola said on Friday. “But it’s a different competition, one game. It can be 10 against 11, bad decisions, mistakes, whatever and you can lose a game.
“We know we can lose a game. In long periods we have been better than United these past years, it’s obvious. It’s facts – every game we are there. But in one game, anything can happen.”
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The Manchester City manager was speaking like he would ahead of an FA Cup third round tie against a side from a lower division, rather than a final against their biggest rivals. Guardiola stressed United’s strengths on multiple occasions on Friday, keen to ensure no complacency crept into his squad after winning another Premier League title last week.
City eased to two derby wins this season (despite Marcus Rashford’s rocket at the Etihad), to follow on from the cup final win last season. City extended their long record of finishing ahead of United this term, a record 31 points after they won a fourth Premier League title in a row. United finished eighth.
When Erik ten Hag leads his team out at Wembley on Saturday, it could well be his final game in charge of United after a difficult two years. One report on Friday suggested United have already made the decision to sack him regardless of the cup final result – MEN Sport reported that United sources have reiterated their focus is on Saturday’s final and no decision will be made before an end-of-season review planned for after the game.
Contrast that to Guardiola, potentially earning his 18th trophy as Blues manager if he secures back-to-back doubles. It was claimed on Friday that City want him to stay past a decade at the Etihad, which would mean him signing an extension of two or more seasons after next year.
Guardiola said last weekend that he is ‘closer to leaving than staying [for another seven years]’, and that he currently is unsure how he will find the motivation to inspire him next season. He added that once pre-season returns, he is sure that fire will too.
The City boss is at the stage of cementing an already secured legacy at City. The Blues are in the market for creating a dynasty and breaking English football records. When a Manchester derby FA Cup final would have once struck fear into fans, there is now an acceptance that City are simply better than their rivals and will beat them if they do their jobs on the day.
When Ten Hag and Guardiola stand on the edge of their huge technical areas at Wembley, Guardiola will look emboldened by another fine season, supported unconditionally by his club and free to make any decision he wants over his future.
The decision may have already been taken out of Ten Hag’s hands, and United would be forced to go back to square one, again, in their attempts to catch City. Those attempts over the last 11 years are akin to a game of snakes and ladders, where City only climb the ladders and United only land on the snakes.
Whatever the result, Guardiola’s position will be safe. Ten Hag’s is anything but, and the gap between the two FA Cup finalists is growing wider with every season.