Bernardo Silva and John Stones, two City legends who are leaving the club this summer, share the honour of collecting the FA Cup. It’s their 17th major trophy in nine years at City, 20 if you include the Community Shield. And for champions like Bernardo and Stones, not to mention that insatiable beast Guardiola, the experience of lifting a hunk of metal to the heavens will never, ever get old.

Pep Guardiola leads the way as City walk up to collect their medals from Prince William and lift the trophy. He and a wild-eyed Bernardo Silva are deep in conversation, both smiling broadly. Their professional relationship has burned as brightly as almost any in the Premier League era.

Chelsea’s players are dragging themselves up to collect their runners-up medals. They’ve had a poor season, on and off the field, but their performance today was beyond reproach. And for the second time this season, Calum McFarlane proved a worthy opponent to Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City have won both domestic cups for the second time under Pep Guardiola. In 2018-19 they managed a domestic treble; that looks unlikely this year, but it’s not beyond the realms.

Manchester City are now level with Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs on eight FA Cups. Only Arsenal (14) and Manchester United (13) have won more.

90+2 min Caicedo fouls Semenyo, then sarcastically applauds the assistant referee and is booked.

90+1 min An inswinging cross is headed wide from 12 yards by Delap. A tough chance – his movement was good but he couldn’t guide the header on target.

90 min Five minutes of added time.

90 min On 11 November 2018, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City beat Man Utd 3-1 through goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan. A day earlier, 18-year-old Antoine Semenyo made his FA Cup debut for Newport County in a 2-0 win away to Met Police.

Eight years on, Semenyo is a few minutes of injury time away from scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup final.

88 min Excellent game management from City, who are keeping the ball and frustrating Chelsea.

86 min: Chelsea substitution Alejandro Garnacho replaces the weary Joao Pedro.

85 min Cherki addresses a bouncing ball of the edge of the area with a ferocious shot that is beaten away by Sanchez. It was straight enough but that’s still a fine save.

83 min “That was a wonderful goal, I actually burst out laughing,” writes Kári Tulinius. “This was like something the Harlem Globetrotters would pull, if they played football.”

Please don’t make Florentino Perez angry again.

82 min: Chelsea substitution Former Manchester City forward Liam Delap comes on for Reece James.

80 min And now it’s over to our resident Quasimodo. “My pre-season prediction of a team in blue or red winning top honours in England and Europe looks like coming true again, Rob,” writes Simon McMahon. “I amend it slightly to include green and white in Scotland. Hoping it holds for the World Cup this year too. Scotland v Spain final. Norway for Eurovision. Democrats or Republicans. Labour or Tories Reform. It’s foolproof, I tell you. Bet the farm on it.”

79 min Darren Cann, assistant referee in the 2010 World Cup final, again thinks it was the correct decision to not award the penalty. I’ll bow to his superior knowledge, but Khusanov took a big risk by leaning quite strongly into Hato.

77 min A big chance for City to clinch it. Doku frees the underlapping O’Reilly on the left side of the area – but he cuts the ball back to nobody instead of trying to score another Wembley goal.

Chelsea break and there’s another penalty appeal for a challenge by Khusanov, this time on Hato (I think). It looked clumsy – he was the wrong side – but it’s been cleared by both the referee and VAR.

76 min “Semenyo did a Zola?” says Giovanni Cafagna.

A Nigel Clough, please.

75 min: Chelsea substiution Pedro Neto replaces Marc Cucurella, which presumably means a switch to 4-2-3-1.

Erling Haaland opened the game up with a sharp turn away from Fofana 30 yards from goal. He gave the ball to Bernardo, who played it back to Haaland on the right side of the area. Haaland drove a first-time cross towards the near post, where Semenyo dragged the ball behind his standing leg and into the far corner. That’s an outstanding finish!

70 min The corner is headed away.

69 min Semenyo runs at Cucurella, who concedes a corner with a well-timed challenge. Semenyo has been a greater than threat than Doku so far.

67 min On that occasion, Khusanov barely touched Joao Pedro. I’m still not sure about the one before half-time though.

66 min Gusto clips an early cross into the box, where Joao Pedro goes down off the ball after some sort of touch from Khusanov. The referee isn’t interested, nor Stockley Park’s finest.

65 min: City substitution Mateo Kovacic replaces Rodri, who isn’t fit enough to go the distance. Phil Foden seemed to be getting ready too but he hasn’t come on yet.

63 min “Cynical Urges (50 min),” says Joe Pearson, “is my next band name.”

Who knew a band with a name like that would drop the first great yacht rock album?

61 min This is Chelsea’s best spell of the match, and Pep Guardiola is about to respond with a double substitution.

59 min James takes a corner on the right, gets the ball back from a near-post clearance and flips a delicious cross that is just too high for Fofana at the far post.

58 min Chelsea have two penalty appeals turned down in the space of 10 seconds. The first was for a challenge by Doku on Caicedo, the second when Enzo’s cross hits the elbow of O’Reilly. His arm was folded into his body so there’s nothing for VAR to see here.

56 min Khusanov is booked for barging Cucurella over. There were, before you mention it, some differences between that and the penalty appeal before half-time. No time for that because it’s all happening…

54 min Trafford lets a backpass run under his foot and behind for a Chelsea corner. Could have been worse, a whole lot worse, because he wasn’t far from the goalline.

52 min City are playing with greater urgency at the start of the second half. This is what happened at Stamford Bridge last month, when it was goalless at half-time and 3-0 to City after 67 minutes.

50 min “Khusanov was beaten all ends up,” says Justin Madson of the Chelsea penalty appeal just before half-time. “He took the angle to get the ball, realised he couldn’t, then angled to take out Joao Pedro. No attempt to play the ball whatsoever, not even looking at it.

“I am tired of shoulder charges by defenders being called ‘a coming together’ when the defender is beaten. It’s a cop-out of an excuse for swallowing the whistle for something that would ordinarily be a foul because it happens in the box.

“Thank you for your time.”

My instinct is that it was a foul. But the speed with which VAR cleared it, and the certainly with which Darren Cann on the BBC said it wasn’t a penalty, has given me pause. I certainly agree with the broader point. Footballers, not just defenders, have become so good at disguising their cynical urges.

47 min “I’m on call and missed the MBM,” boasts Alan Terlep, “so I went back to the beginning... and the Millenium Bug.

“I was a technician in 1999 and ran patches for the Millennium Bug on hundreds of computers. First business day of 2000, I got a frantic call from a factory that was completely shut down. I went out and found that I’d missed a step in the patch, so the bug shut down the factory.

“What happened to the Millennium Bug? We saw it coming and fixed it before it caused big problems. It was a shining example of society successfully fixing a problem and it should be celebrated by anyone who thinks we can collectively make life better.”

Amen to that. Now, any idea how society can come together to fix everything? (Also, that must have been a pretty scary phone call to receive, especially if you’d been living life to the max the night before.)

46 min City begin the second half. Cherki has indeed replaced Marmoush, so these are the revised line-ups.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, Caicedo, James, Cucurella; Palmer, Enzo; Joao Pedro.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Chalobah, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap.

Man City (4-2-3-1) Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.

Substitutes: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Savinho, Foden.

Rayan Cherki is coming on at half-time, presumably for Omar Marmoush.

“When was the last time a team was utterly crushed, 1980s-style, by losing the FA Cup final? Pardew’s Palace, West Ham in 2006?”

You must have missed me weeping like a bairn in the bogs in 2018, mate. (But seriously folks, I’d probably say Palace in 2016 or Hull in 2014.)

Half-time reading

Another final-day showdown, another final-day heartbreak. The pain may have been spread over 61 years, but that won’t make it any easier to bear for Hearts who, having been top for 250 days of the Scottish Premiership season, missed out on the title again.

There was, of course, a Celtic penalty for handball and a critical video assistant referee decision that went their way but, on this occasion, neither provided the controversy. That came instead from the confusion as the game was ended by a pitch invasion with 23 seconds plus whatever else the referee felt needed to be added to injury still to play.

Some incursions are largely joyous, forgivable as spontaneous eruptions of emotion but while that may have been true for the majority who spilled out of the stands, there were also many who confronted Hearts players. But even if the invasion had been purely celebratory, fans cannot be allowed to dictate when games finish.

45+1 min: Chelsea penalty appeal! After Bernardo lost the ball in a dangerous position, Joao Pedro surged into the penalty area and was sent flying by Khusanov. It was a body check rather than a trip but I think decision could have gone either way.

Nope, no penalty. The consensus is that it’s one to file under ‘a coming together’. That’s fair enough, but equally Khusanov knew what he was doing.

45 min Three minutes of added minutes.

42 min Andy Gordon has this to say on the skull cap being worn by Chelsea’s keeper Robert Sanchez.

My mind is wandering a bit, but could Chelsea have downloaded an AI of Petr Cech to feed to Sanchez through electrodes in that skull cap?

I love this idea; the potential is endless.

• Put all Manchester United’s central midfielders in Diadora boots.

• Make all Liverpool’s strikers grow a super furry animal above their top lip.

• And give Declan Rice a special combover for the World Cup. But make sure you get the settings right.

41 min The corner is headed away by Haaland, who then uses his abundant noggin to clear the danger a second time.

40 min After another crisp Chelsea move, Palmer’s cross is headed behind by the stooping Bernardo Silva. Chelsea are on top as we approach half-time.

38 min A deep cross is cushioned back across the face by Gusto and cleared by City. Chelsea are having less of the ball but look more dangerous when they have it.

33 min Semenyo beats Cucurella with ease on the right side of the area, only to slash a left-foot shot out for a throw-in on the far side.

32 min Cucurella is booked for a foul on Semenyo, who has caused him problems all day.

32 min Joao Pedro looks okay to continue.

31 min Now Joao Pedro is down with an injury to his left thigh. That’s a worry – for Chelsea, for Brazil and for all lovers of economical, intelligent, underrated centre-forward play.

29 min Enzo Fernandez is booked for wiping out Bernardo Silva. Both feet were off the ground, with his studs showing slightly, so although he took the ball he can have no complaints.

Okay, he should have no complaints. He is currently complaining.

28 min “We’ve gone from numbingly dull to mildly exciting incompetence,” says Adam Roberts. “Is this progress?”

Any chance we could talk about the game rather than my writing?

27 min: Disallowed goal for City! Semenyo plays in the underlapping Nunes, who gives Haaland an open goal at the far post. But Nunes started his run far too early and was clearly offside.

26 min Chelsea are growing into the game. Enzo Fernandez almost releases Joao Pedro with a short through pass that is crucially intercepted by Khusanov.

25 min Caicedo is limping with what looks like a knee problem. He’s going to continue for now.

23 min At the other end, James is sacked just outside the area by Doku. Haaland collects and smashes a cross-shot across the face of goal from a very tight angle.

22 min A fine tackle by Palmer on Doku leads to a dangerous Chelsea break. Joao Pedro is held up at first by Khusanov; then, when support arrives, he ignores Enzo on the edge of the area and goes for goal himself. Alas, Joao Pedro slips in the act of shooting and the ball dribbles through to Trafford.

21 min A slick attack from Chelsea, their first move of quality, ends with a cross on the run from Gusto that is headed behind by the diving Nunes.

The corner is taken short and eventually worked all the way back to the keeper Sanchez. No, I haven’t made that up.

19 min Possession watch: Chelsea 28-72 Man City.

16 min Not a classic so far. Both teams are playing the long game – City with the ball, Chelsea without.

14 min Semenyo, who has started brightly, runs at Cucurella and slides an inviting ball into the six-yard box. Haaland and Marmoush are on their heels and it runs behind for a goalkick.

12 min On the few occasions Chelsea have got the ball up to Joao Pedro, he has protected it superbly. He’s such a key man today.

10 min Doku swings a cross beyond the far post. Rodri comes round the back and plants a header back across goal that hits a Chelsea defender and is cleared desperately by Chelsea. No matter, a free-kick had been given, either for offside against Rodri or a high boot from Haaland.

8 min So does Semenyo, whose mistimed free-kick hits Palmer on the edge of the area.

8 min Bernardo Silva is fouled 30 yards from goal. Khusanov fancies this…

6 min Semenyo cuts infield from the right and hits a left-foot shot from the edge of the area. The ball deflects off a Chelsea defender and loops towards Marmoush, who mishits an attempted flick eight yards from goal. That was a chance, even if the spin on the ball made it awkward to read.

4 min City have monopolised possession early on, but so far it has all been in front of the Chelsea defence.

2 min City have started in a 4-2-4 formation, with Marmoush playing alongside and sometimes beyond Haaland.

1 min Cole Palmer strokes the ball back to Robert Sanchez, and the 2026 FA Cup final is under way.

A reminder of the teams

Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, Caicedo, James, Cucurella; Palmer, Enzo; Joao Pedro.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Chalobah, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap.

Man City (4-2-3-1) Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Semenyo, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland.

Substitutes: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Cherki, Savinho, Foden.

Referee Darren England.

“Makes you think though,” writes Bill Hargreaves. “You got your left back, your right back, and now Cole Palmer has a Henry V haircut - nothing at the back. You know, Quasimodo predicted all this.”

Rodri talks to TNT Sports

It’s a big day, a big final; we need to show our best. It’s always special to play a final – it’s our fourth [FA Cup final] in a row and it means a lot, but we haven’t won the last two so it’s an important day.

If you’re reading this entry, you’re in the wrong place. Go to Simon Burnton’s liveblog, right now, but come back before 3pm.

“With the Swedish side of the family today,” writes Julian Menz. “Even my daughter knows they have no chance later tonight, but I’m doing my best to explain the UK entry by googling ‘Thomas Dolby’.

”In the meantime, we have the small matter of an FA Cup final to negotiate. Let’s just hope a hockey match doesn’t break out (and yes, it’s the Ice Hockey World Cup at the moment)….”

I’d love a nine-goal thriller. Bet José would too.

“Tracksuits instead of specially commissioned cup final suits,” says Matt Emerson. “Game’s gone.”

Whatever happened to the Spice Boys? The strong, silent type.

So, about that team news. As expected, Chelsea will start with a back three. Calum McFarlane has made two changes from last weekend’s draw at Anfield: Robert Sanchez and Reece James come in for Filip Jorgensen and Andrey Santos.

Pep Guardiola prefers Omar Marmoush – who had a penalty saved by Dean Henderson in last year’s final – to Rayan Cherki. City’s designated FA Cup goalkeeper James Trafford is back in net. Phil Foden has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Cherki, Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma. But Rodri is back, Rodri is back and Rodri is back.

When Chelsea drew at Manchester City in the league in January, they dominated the second half after Calum McFalarne made a half-time switch from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1. This is a longwinded way of saying they may well start with a back three today.

‘Stirring’ is the subject of Matt Dony’s email. And he doesn’t mean a synonym of ‘rousing’

Is the score not something like 115-74 to City? The magic of the cup, eh?

“Challenge to City,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “Show me your Conference League.”

And the latest score on FA Cup final day is Krishnamoorhy 1-0 Smyth.

The Scottish title race is reaching its conclusion at Celtic Park, where Celtic and Hearts are drawing 1-1 after 50 minutes. Celtic’s goal was another penalty, but this time there was no controversy. You can follow the rest of that game with Simon Burnton.

The first email of FA Cup final day

“One writes off Chelsea at their own peril,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “Show me one team that has won everything on offer. If a Hammersmith Over-70s Welfare Cup was announced tomorrow, Chelsea would nick that too.”

I agree, but haven’t City won everything as well? Apart from the Hammersmith Over-70s Welfare Cup.

Pep Guardiola has described his ­decade managing Manchester City as “effing* fun”, and suggested Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea might not be the last time he leads the team out at Wembley.

While Guardiola’s contract expires in summer 2027, there is increasing expectation that he will depart the club in the close season. Saturday’s final will be City’s 24th cup appearance at the national stadium under the Spaniard, with Guardiola aiming to claim the 17th major trophy of his 10 years in charge.

* He may not have actually said ‘effing’

As meteoric rises go, Calum McFarlane’s takes some beating. Six years after he and his assistants Harry Hudson and Dan Hogan were working for a south London charity that provides football and education for disadvantaged children, they will lead out Chelsea to face Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

There have been accusations of cronyism given they have connections to Joe Shields, Chelsea’s co‑head of recruitment, that go back years, to when McFarlane, Hudson and Hogan were at the charity, the Kinetic Foundation, or beyond. But James Fotheringham, Kinetic’s co-founder, is dismissive of that.

“The narrative is of people being given an unfair opportunity,” he says of a backlash that has led to abusive messages being posted on Kinetic’s social media sites since McFarlane was appointed as Chelsea’s interim manager for the second time this season. “Calum did the hard yards at City, Southampton and Chelsea and has got seasons under his belt to get to that position. I think if anyone gets thrown into a six-game environment, you bring someone who you’ve been on the touchline with for 300 games and who knows how you work … That’s the truth of the situation Calum’s in.”

Marc Guéhi’s whirlwind 12 months in the FA Cup: captaining Crystal Palace to glory at Wembley last season, experiencing the competition’s greatest shock via the holders’ third-round elimination at sixth-tier Macclesfield and, on Saturday, aiming to claim the trophy again when Manchester City face Chelsea.

In a story-rich competition the defender’s is one of the more intriguing, particularly as Palace’s triumph was their first trophy and City, who he joined nine days after the Macclesfield reverse, were their scalps in the final, beaten 1-0 by Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike.

He says: “I feel like my football life is crazy. There’s no consistency to it. It’s very unpredictable. And it’s fun, interesting. I’m glad to be given the opportunity to play in such a prestigious final again. And for this club, I know how much it means to them to win trophies.”

Chelsea fared well as underdogs in their most recent outing in a final. They surprised Paris Saint-Germain in last summer’s Club World Cup, racing into an unassailable 3-0 lead by half-time and disrupting the European champions thanks to a clever tactical approach from Enzo Maresca.

Perhaps there will be more of the same at Wembley. Chelsea have form when it comes to upsetting the odds in a big game, although the one problem with bringing up the PSG win before Saturday afternoon’s FA Cup final against Manchester City is that the challenge of coming up with a plan smart enough to beat Pep Guardiola is no longer Maresca’s responsibility.

The subplot is that it is quite possibly a clash between Maresca’s past and his future. For Chelsea, the moment when a season of promise began its descent into chaos is, from their perspective, when their former head coach began to act like a man who wanted to leave. The infamous comment from Maresca about his “worst 48 hours” at the club after the win over Everton in December still clouds the air at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s reaction will be interesting if Guardiola steps down at the end of the season and Maresca, the leading candidate to replace his former boss, joins City.