By Martin Graham
Manchester City are preparing for an FA Cup final clash against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday, 17 May. While that fixture offers a shot at silverware, it comes at the end of a campaign that falls short of the high standards set in recent years.
Despite reaching the final and sitting in a strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, this season has been below expectations for Pep Guardiola’s team. City currently sit fourth in the Premier League, well behind champions Liverpool, who have already secured the title with an 18-point lead. Their Champions League run ended early following a defeat to Real Madrid in the knockout play-offs, and they exited the Carabao Cup in the fourth round after losing to Tottenham.
City’s campaign began with a Community Shield victory over Manchester United at Wembley, secured through a penalty shootout. That remains one of few bright moments this term for a side that lifted the Premier League trophy four times in succession and were European champions in 2023.
Striker Erling Haaland admits this season hasn’t lived up to the club’s ambitions. “It’s been a rough year,” he told BBC Sport. “We’ve dropped too many points, and that’s frustrating.” He underlined the need to finish on a strong note by adding another trophy to the cabinet, noting that when a club has become used to winning consistently, anything less can feel like failure.
Haaland was quick to highlight the challenge posed by Palace, calling them a side full of talent. Their last meeting at Selhurst Park ended in a draw, while City eventually came out on top in the return fixture at the Etihad, winning 5-2.
Since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for £51.2m, Haaland has played a central role in City’s success, winning numerous titles and earning back-to-back Premier League Golden Boots with 36 and 27 goals in his first two seasons. However, his output has dipped this campaign. After starting strong with 10 goals in his opening five league matches – including consecutive hat-tricks – he has added just 11 goals in 23 appearances since.
He acknowledged the team’s inconsistency: “We haven’t strung enough wins together, and that’s what you need to do in this league.” While injuries have played a part, Haaland insisted that excuses aren’t the answer. “We all need to take responsibility – none of us have been at our peak.”
Haaland was sidelined for over a month after injuring his ankle during the FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth. He returned in a goalless draw away to Southampton, who sit bottom of the table. To aid his recovery, he used red-light therapy, a method that helps heal muscles and joints by applying infrared light. “When there’s not much sunlight, you have to find other ways,” he said, also emphasizing the importance of rest, diet, and recovery.
Another key story surrounding the upcoming final is the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to leave City this summer when his contract ends. The 33-year-old midfielder has been central to City’s dominance in recent seasons, having collected six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League. With 119 assists, he is second only to Ryan Giggs in the Premier League’s all-time list.
Haaland expressed his admiration: “Kevin’s been amazing – his vision and passing are on another level. It’s been a dream to play with him.” He added that while replacing a player like De Bruyne won’t be easy, City will need to adapt for the future.
The Norwegian also shared a personal connection to Wembley, recalling how he attended the 2014 League Cup final as a 13-year-old, watching City defeat Sunderland alongside his father, former midfielder Alf Inge Haaland. “Wembley has always meant something special,” he said. “I’ve seen us win there, I’ve lifted trophies there – hopefully, we’ll do it again this weekend.”