It’s happening again. Another Manchester City treble will be a short price on the prediction markets, even if City were defeated in the last two FA Cup finals. The club’s dominance of English football asks existential questions of those attempting to compete. Yet again, this season written off by those foolish enough to underestimate them, City loom menacingly over the rest, threatening a level of success others can only reach for.
The key question remains without its answer. Is this Pep Guardiola’s last dance? The rumours, unsubstantiated as they are, have bubbled under all season, his weekly responses to enquiries opaque and diversionary. Anyone looking for clues at Wembley in his team selection would deduce the Premier League title, rather than repeating the domestic treble of 2018-19, was the priority for any big send-off. Such speculation is folly when the likelihood is that Guardiola himself may even not know his own mind.
Another step towards now habitual glory. Though when does success become a matter of relief in standards sustained rather than a rush of endorphins? A sparse spread of City fans, Wembley’s middle-tier’s empty, sun-bleached seats tipped up, suggested a national stadium fatigue. Definitely understandable; this was a 33rd visit since the 2011 FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United, victory there the launchpad for a decade and a half of dominance. “They will be here for the final, don’t worry about that,” said Guardiola of the absentees. Those shielding their eyes from the early evening sun were also keeping abreast of events at the Emirates that went against their hopes.
For Southampton, if 1976 is now long ago, it has been a week of recollections of Bobby Stokes, Jim McCalliog, Mick Channon, Lawrie McMenemy et al, the club’s own historic defeat 1-0 of Manchester United. Southampton had their Stokes moment when Finn Azaz scored his brilliant goal but that moment of ecstatic glory will not last the next 50 years. Three minutes later, Saints sagged when James Bree deflected Jérémy Doku’s shot. Fun while it lasted; Nico González’s winning goal was the equal of Azaz’s strike. To lose via a deflection and a blockbuster is no disgrace, plenty to take heart for a club with other important matters to consider.
On Tuesday at St Mary’s, beating Ipswich would keep faint automatic Championship promotion hopes alive. Saints must hope that so many minutes of last-man defending has not sapped their legs. A return to Wembley for the playoff final is more likely, if less romantic, with happy memories of beating Leeds in 2024. Six changes from the midweek draw at Bristol City, former City trainee Shea Charles, hero against Arsenal, dropped to the bench among them, made clear the priority list of Tonda Eckert, and Southampton’s executive team, too. A club that has made repeated attempts to relaunch looks in good hands. Eckert almost pulled off what Oliver Glasner managed in last year’s final, going close to seizing on City’s frustrations.
Guardiola’s selection resembled a pre-season scratch team, one from early Cup’s rounds. Wednesday’s win at Burnley had shown the effort required in overhauling Arsenal, an “incredible loss of energy” as their manager put it. Everton away is nine days off but Erllng Haaland and Nico O’Reilly were held back until the 71st minute. When Azaz’s goal flew in, Haaland was to be found issuing instructions to his teammates, imploring the usual standards were reached for.
This may be the last dance for others. González, Omar Marmoush, Tijani Reijnders have all been linked with departures. James Trafford may wish to become a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere. John Stones’ and Bernardo Silva’s exits are already confirmed. If the latter two’s send-offs will be as club legends that first trio’s uncertain futures show the churn, the human wastage of the Guardiola machine, at a combined cost of £155m only the wealthiest clubs could soak up.
Reiijnder’s first-half attempt at a flying volley before also scuffing wide in the second half will have done little for his resale value; he also received a flea in his ear and manhandling from his manager as his teammates celebrated Doku’s goal.
If yet more success is this City squad’s destiny there is room for significant modifications. Will Phil Foden, another avatar of a golden era, be part of the next building project, its foreman as yet unconfirmed? Glimpses of the star player who has exemplified the City conveyor belt of youthful talent, Saints captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis among them, have become too fleeting. At Wembley, Foden again struggled to impose himself. These days, Rayan Cherki makes the snaking, skating runs for City, eating Foden’s lunch by being the one player Guardiola allows free rein. Foden’s removal early in the second half, for Savinho, another on standby for departure, was the latest stall by a player who, at 26 next month, should be at his peak.
Foden’s fall from prominence, struggling to maintain the highest of standards, may be just another indicator of the severity of the Guardiola supremacy that leaves others trailing in City’s wake.