Manchester City completed a domestic cup double by defeating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley to win the FA Cup.
In a lacklustre affair which saw few chances created by both teams, Antoine Semenyo got on the end of a threaded Erling Haaland past and backheeled a superb shot into the back of the net midway through the second half.
It was the only goal of the final and delivered a 20th title to City since Pep Guardiola took charge of the club.
Man City’s captain, Bernardo Silva, will leave the club at the end of the season and wished Guardiola ‘all the best’ by going out on a high. He said: “Since I arrived it’s been 20 trophies which isn’t bad. I care a lot about Manchester City. I wish all the best to the manager because I really enjoy being with him and sharing all these moments together.”
Away from the pitch Xabi Alonso is close to an agreement to become Chelsea’s next manager and lead them into a new era after a tough season.
Relive the action and follow the live reaction from the FA Cup final below:
FA Cup final shows contrast between Chelsea and Manchester City – but where do the clubs go from here?
It certainly doesn’t feel like the end of an era at Manchester City, since they keep on winning. Rather than as yet confirming any departure, Pep Guardiola instead just secured another trophy. His third personal FA Cup makes this a domestic cup double, that may yet become a second domestic treble.
City obviously need a lot to change in the title race but, as this 1-0 win over Chelsea showed, they keep on putting on the squeeze.
Pep Guardiola reacts to his side’s FA Cup win
“Five finals in 10 years, won three lost two, quite decent I would say. Against Colwill, James and Caicedo, they are so good.
“Second half they were better even though we had the first chance with Antoine [Semenyo], they were better, but we found the goal.
“I just have the feeling that last season against Crystal Palace and even the previous season against United we were better than today.”
Antoine Semenyo delivers cup glory for Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s tactical tweak
They all wanted Antoine Semenyo. Tottenham last summer, Manchester United and Liverpool in January. Chelsea were interested too, though that may be less noteworthy given that they tend to want every winger on the planet.
Manchester City got him, and if the financial muscle to pay a sizeable fee helps, if the availability of one of the leading scorers in the Premier League who was both at a smaller club and in possession of a release clause meant it hardly counted as an inspired piece of scouting, there can be a reward for doing the obvious. But there can be one for thinking out of the box, for trying the unorthodox, too.
Steven Gerrard gives his assessment of Chelsea’s future
“There’s definitely a lot of questions at board level that the fans want answers to. They need to attract an elite manager to coach these real talented players that they have got.
“They need to recruit in the defensive area for me, they need a centre-half to compliment Colwill.”
Man City’s matchwinner gives his reaction
Antoine Semenyo said: “I don’t know how to feel at the moment to be honest, I’m quite numb at the moment.”
On the goal: “Yeah I just tried to improvise the best I could, and it went in the bottom corner, I can’t even complain.
“I’ve done it couple of times in training.”
Joe Cole reacts to Manchester City’s win
“When you have that quality – Semenyo, Haaland, you can bring Cherki off the bench, I think they are the best team in Europe at the moment on current form.
“They just had a little bit too much in the end, you have to give them credit. The goal is a little bit of genius, on the biggest stage.”
‘Not even one beer’: Pep Guardiola reveals Man City’s celebrations are on hold with focus on Premier League
Pep Guardiola said he would not even allow his players one beer as he said they cannot party to celebrate their FA Cup win.
Manchester City completed a cup double by beating Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley to follow their Carabao Cup triumph over Arsenal.
Xabi Alonso reportedly reaches agreement to join Chelsea
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic on ‘X’, the Spaniard visited London last week and has allegedly reached a four year agreement.
Reece James’ reaction
“It’s disappointing to lose, there wasn’t much in the game, it was even, they had one half chance and managed to take it. “
“No one is happy when you lose.”
“Last week we go to Anfield and probably should win and we lose today you know its difficult there are positives to take but also a lot to learn from.”
