Manchester City’s FA Cup glory: where final against Chelsea was won and lost

Antoine Semenyo’s Kanu-esque backheel was one of the great Cup final goals as City’s forwards stepped up to end the challenge of McFarlane’s stubborn Blues

It was not quite at the level of not playing Fernandinho or Rodri against Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2021, but Pep Guardiola’s decision to start Omar Marmoush over Rayan Cherki was certainly an unexpected call. Pushed high and told to operate alongside Erling Haaland, Marmoush struggled to make an impact. The Egypt forward’s positioning was off, disrupting the connection between City’s midfield and attack. They lacked a link player, making it easy for Chelsea to absorb pressure during the first half of a disappointing final, and it was not a surprise when Guardiola replaced Marmoush with Cherki at half-time.