LONDON — Pep Guardiola emphasized that his Manchester City players would not be permitted “even one beer” to commemorate their FA Cup victory as his focus shifted to the upcoming essential Premier League match against Bournemouth.
City secured a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, marking their second trophy of the season. However, Guardiola stated that there would be no celebrations, as the team would be returning directly to Manchester.
The match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium is set for Tuesday, with City striving to surpass Arsenal at the top of the table in the final week of the season.
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When asked about the possibility of a celebration in London on Saturday night, Guardiola replied: “Home. Not even one beer.”
“No, no, no — there’s no time [to celebrate]. Chelsea had seven days to prepare for the final; we had three, and yesterday was chaotic.
“We literally spent six hours traveling from City to here. The trains in this country are a bit of a challenge. Six hours!”
City trails Arsenal by two points with only two games remaining.
If Arsenal defeats the already-relegated Burnley at the Emirates on Monday, City will need a victory over Bournemouth to keep the title hunt alive until the final weekend.
City will host Aston Villa at the Etihad on Sunday, while Arsenal will face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Guardiola further indicated that the players would have an opportunity to celebrate both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup with a parade following their last match against Aston Villa.
“Next Monday, after the game against Aston Villa, we’re going to celebrate with the women’s team. The club informed me there will be a parade in Manchester, as we need to celebrate with both teams,” said Guardiola.
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In the meantime, Chelsea’s interim coach Calum McFarlane expressed disappointment over the stunning backheel goal by Antoine Semenyo that clinched the win for City.
“It’s a rare goal, a real xG goal. There was nothing we could do to stop it,” McFarlane commented.
“We went head-to-head with one of the top teams in the world, and there was very little separating the two sides. When we had momentum and needed a moment of brilliance to take the lead, we fell short.
“We understand the potential of this team. It’s an incredibly talented group with significant quality.
“Recently, their commitment and determination have been questioned, but the last two performances can’t be doubted. They’ve given everything for the club.”