- Palace clash leaves little recovery time
- FA Cup final squeezed into brutal run
- Guardiola faces major squad dilemma
Manchester City’s confirmed fixture schedule has left Pep Guardiola facing a huge challenge ahead of the FA Cup final on May 16.
Despite trying to negotiate for an easier schedule, Guardiola’s men are still set to face six teams in just 20 days in May.
The Sky Blues will play the FA Cup final against Chelsea in mid-May. They also have five Premier League clashes pending with title rivals Arsenal at the top of the table.
Likewise, City can’t afford an error at this stage of the season. A single loss can mean a possible defeat in the whole competition.
Man City have confirmed their fixture schedule
After defeating Southampton last Saturday, the Citizens cemented their spot in the FA Cup final. However, this spot didn’t come without complications.
The final will be held on the 16th of May, and City face Bournemouth the next day in the Premier League. Likewise, the Carabao Cup winners tried to prepone the clash against the Cherries but failed in their pursuit.
However, the Premier League did agree to postpone the game, but Man City still face three teams in a span of seven days in this new schedule.
The Crystal Palace clash, however, is unchanged as they’ll visit the Etihad on the 13th. Then City travel to Wembley for a final, which is scheduled for the 16th.
Guardiola’s men will hit the road again as they face the Cherries away at the Vitality Stadium on the 19th of May.
Brutal schedule creates major issue for Guardiola
The Palace game leading up to the FA Cup final will arguably be the most demanding for Man City. Most of the players will have to make two trips in under a week after the clash.
Guardiola will have two different XIs for the FA Cup final and Premier League clashes. However, most players will be a part of both squads with differing roles.
We might see John Stones leading the club again in the FA Cup final, which will most likely be his last game in a Sky Blues shirt.
A season-defining month
Guardiola now faces the toughest balancing act of the season. With the Premier League title race still alive and the FA Cup trophy in sight, the Catalan manager can’t afford to overwork his squad.
Rodri is yet to return, but a comeback in May is expected. However, not overloading the midfielder will be a goal for Guardiola, as losing him again at this stage can cost the club.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Competition | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 4 May | Everton F.C. | Away | Premier League | 20:00 |
| Saturday 9 May | Brentford F.C. | Home | Premier League | 17:30 |
| Wednesday 13 May | Crystal Palace F.C. | Home | Premier League | 20:00 |
| Saturday 16 May | Chelsea F.C. | Wembley | FA Cup Final 2026 | 15:00 |
| Tuesday 19 May | AFC Bournemouth | Away | Premier League | 19:30 |
| Sunday 24 May | Aston Villa F.C. | Home | Premier League | 16:00 |
Ruben Dias and Joski Gvardiol are also sidelined, but like Rodri, Dias might return in early May. The Portuguese defender will be another player that Guardiola will need to take extra care of.
Mateus Nunes recently suffered a knock in the FA Cup semi-final, and the right-back position remains a major concern at the Etihad.
As a result, we might see Rico Lewis and Nico Gonzalez play important roles if Nunes and Rodri remain sidelined for a longer period than expected.
