Esteemed Kompany
·12 de mayo de 2025
Two players seem to be certain selections for Manchester City for the FA Cup final

Esteemed Kompany
·12 de mayo de 2025
Up next for Manchester City is the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on Saturday at Wembley. It’s the last chance for Pep Guardiola’s side to claim silverware from a disappointing season. Looking ahead to the game, it does seem that Omar Marmoush should start against Crystal Palace. His movement could be a key part of City’s gameplan at Wembley. But it does seem that two other players should be brought back into the City starting eleven for Saturday’s match.
Looking back at Manchester City’s nil-all draw with Southampton, Pep Guardiola selected Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol in the full-back positions. Both players can play the role, but neither player was at their best at the St. Mary’s Stadium. Rico Lewis was tasked with playing a role that doesn’t suit him. Josko Gvardiol has played as a centre-back recently, and should move back into that role against Crystal Palace. Manchester City are a better team with Gvardiol at centre-back, especially recently. I can’t see Lewis starting at right-back at Wembley. His performance against Southampton doesn’t warrant that reward. Based on all of that, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly should start in the full-back positions for Saturday’s FA Cup final.
We have seen Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly become crucial to Manchester City’s play in recent weeks. They offer width and add to the attacking play of Manchester City. It does seem that Pep Guardiola’s side will need that to prosper against Crystal Palace. If Erling Haaland starts, he’d prosper from their width and delivery. He needs service to thrive. O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes will provide that. There is also the energy that both Nunes and O’Reilly provide that will be needed in the FA Cup final. Manchester City were flat against Southampton. They can’t afford to be that flat against Crystal Palace.
In my view, Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes must start against Crystal Palace this Saturday. They’ll offer what Pep Guardiola’s side needs in a match where they must win. That’s seems obvious to me and I’m hoping the pair start at left and right-back at Wembley.