Pep Guardiola greeted reporters with a familiar blend of honesty and challenge. Victory over Nottingham Forest felt good, he said, but lifting the trophy will demand peak focus because Crystal Palace believe destiny is theirs.
The Catalan pointed to Palace’s convincing defeats of Fulham and Aston Villa as evidence that Oliver Glasner’s methodology functions against contrasting styles. He reminded his squad that Palace press aggressively yet retain shape when out of possession, a dual threat that punishes complacency.
Guardiola conceded that City’s own season has wavered, citing dropped league points and an early European exit. He therefore framed the final as a mental examination rather than simply a tactical puzzle, urging senior players to drive standards in every training drill.
Behind the scenes staff have studied Palace’s rapid wide combinations, hoping to limit Sarr and Eze by crowding the half spaces. Guardiola warned that over-committing full backs could open counter lanes, a mistake Villa discovered to painful effect.
Publicly he praised Glasner’s influence, calling the Austrian “one of the cleverest coaches in Europe” and predicting that Palace will reach more finals in coming seasons regardless of this result. Such respect, he insisted, should sharpen City minds.
The message landed clearly inside the dressing room. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic said the group expects the toughest domestic match of the year and accepts that only collective intensity will secure silverware.
