The Blues have struggled this season, but can still end it on a high note.
This season has been a disaster for Chelsea. The Blues came into the season on a high, upsetting an all-conquering PSG side with a stunning 3-0 victory in the Club World Cup. There were several high-profile signings in the summer, including rising star Estêvão and Brighton’s João Pedro. Manager Enzo Maresca seemed to have finally turned things around for a Chelsea side that has struggled in the BlueCo. era.
Everything imploded in the months that followed. Maresca was shockingly sacked to start 2026, and Liam Rosenior was brought in. Rosenior didn’t last long, either, leading to the interim hiring of the inexperienced Calum McFarlane. Chelsea, who at one stage looked like potential title challengers under Maresca, have slid to ninth in the Premier League. There has been repeated drama, with star Enzo Fernández hinting at a potential move away.
However, this season is still salvageable. The Blues have had luck on their side throughout their FA Cup run, facing Charlton, Hull City, Wrexham, Port Vale, and Leeds United. There were close calls — Wrexham took the game to extra time, Leeds kept it close to the end — but when it mattered, Chelsea came through. Now, they are 90 minutes away from winning the FA Cup, but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City stands in their way.
After a slow start, City have completely turned things around. A 14-game unbeaten streak has helped put Guardiola’s men back in the title race, but a 3-3 draw against Everton put Arsenal back in the driver’s seat with two games left. Manchester City are out of the Champions League and may have blown their chance to win the Premier League, but, having won the Carabao Cup earlier this year, they now have a chance to win a second cup competition.
If there’s a “Big Six” opponent that Guardiola wanted to face in the FA Cup Final, it’s Chelsea. City have not lost to the Blues since May 2021 and are on a thirteen-game unbeaten streak against the London-based club.
Chelsea Team News
After sending out an injury-depleted squad against Liverpool, Callum McFarlane will have decent options against City. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnachoo are doing well in training after missing consecutive games, as is goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. Sánchez had exited the game against Nottingham Forest with a head injury and missed the Liverpool game as a result.
Reece James and Levi Colwill were back on the field against Liverpool after long-term injuries. James injured his hamstring in March against Newcastle United and missed five games, all of which Chelsea lost. He returned to the squad for the Liverpool match and came off the bench in a 1-1 draw. Colwill, meanwhile, had not played at all this season after picking up an ACL injury in preseason. He played a full 90 minutes against the Reds.
Wingers Estêvão and Jamie Gittens are expected to miss the remainder of the season with injuries.
Manchester City Team News
Pep Guardiola confirmed that Rodri will be a late decision. The Spanish midfielder has struggled with injuries this season and has missed five straight games after picking up a groin injury against Chelsea.
Center-back Rúben Dias is back in training and was on the bench for the club’s last two games, although he has not played since mid-March. Josko Gvardiol has been sidelined for most of this season, but returned midweek to play against Crystal Palace.
Defining Match-up
So often, Cole Palmer has been the star player for Chelsea. Since joining the Blues in 2023 from Manchester City, Palmer has scored 53 goals and assisted 32, and lifted both the Conference League and Club World Cup. This season, though, he hasn’t quite been as effective. He hasn’t scored in the Premier League since early March and has just one league assist.
In Estêvão’s absence, Palmer has often shifted back to the right wing. That gives him a potentially daunting match-up in Nico O’Reilly on Saturday. Before this season, O’Reilly was used mainly as a depth piece and often in midfield. This season, he’s been a revelation at left-back for Guardiola, starting 28 games in the Premier League.
Whether he’s at his best or not, O’Reilly will have his hands full marking Palmer. As for Palmer, this is his last chance to salvage something from this season, and it comes against his former club. He’ll have to take on one of the most promising full-backs in the Premier League to do so.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez, Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Palmer, Fernández, Neto, João Pedro
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Nico, Silva, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
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Image via chelseafc.com.
