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THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY

While the rest of the known world is humming along to videos of former Bilbo near-hitmaker Colin Chisholm belting out the Hearts song, down south there’s an FA Cup final to be played. The romance of the Cup? About that: private equity Chelsea underdogs versus nation-state owned Manchester City? Be still our beating heart. Sure, there’s narrative to be found. Calum McFarlane getting measured for his Wembley suit when less than 12 months ago he was on Southampton’s coaching staff is one. Though, considering recent ongoing events at Saints, any romance there has probably been squeezed dry. That Chelsea’s players put in such a fine performance in the semi-final against Leeds mere days after not running a leg for Liam Rosenior at Brighton casts long shadows over a squad not exactly beloved by fans.

Remember Enzo Maresca? There’s a chance that we will be hearing a lot more from him since Pep Guardiola’s future remains opaque, perhaps most of all to Guardiola himself. The search for signals goes down all sorts of alleys. Just what was he doing at Stockport County? Why are fitness coaches marching through the door marked Do One? Why does he keep talking about holidays and cocktails? What, precisely, is that centre-circle display that resembles Michael Jackson at the 1996 Brits that a candid camera caught being rehearsed?

Will Saturday reveal any truth in the rumours? Almost certainly not, City are still fighting for the Premier League title, and have got to go to Bournemouth and get something. Perhaps only after that’s decided will Guardiola decide. Maresca sits by the phone. In the meantime, City have been getting on with the real business at hand, snotting the nose of their city rivals in Thursday’s Youth Cup final, one that ended in bad blood. It started that way, too, after an almighty row over the game being staged at City’s Joie Stadium, rather than the Etihad. Only 6,000 could attend, as opposed to the 67,000 who watched United win 2022’s final at Old Trafford.

There were accusations of empty seats, too, even in that bijoux venue. The Manchester rivalry long ago descended to acute levels of pettiness, United fans taking great glee in the availability of tickets across town when, even in doldrum times, Old Trafford is usually still full to the gunwales. What of the actual football? City’s academy players triumphed 2-1, the winner scored by Reigan Heskey, son of Emile, to claim a fifth Youth Cup, a trophy bound tightly into the United backstory to heap further misery on the first team finishing behind City for the last 13 years. Darren Fletcher, United’s coach, was not very happy. “I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that’s gone around this game, for the location, for everything,” he wailed, especially annoyed at an extended trophy presentation that put Chelsea’s Trump-assisted Copa Gianni lift to shame. More glory for Manchester City, more harrumphing from rivals. Just as they like it.

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Join Rob Smyth from 8pm (BST) for red-hot updates on Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool in the Premier League.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Sing as loud as you can. It’ll be hard to hear them, but we know they’re there. We know who we’re representing. We know how many people will be watching. It’s not just about who’s there but actually getting into that lion’s den still being an underdog. Even though we’ve been top of the league since September, we’re still the underdog. For us to be competing with Celtic, with the money they’ve got and everything they’ve got at their disposal, it’s a huge effort for our team. We look forward to it” – Derek McInnes wants the 752 Hearts fans who will be at Celtic Park for the title finale to give their vocal cords a workout for the ages as his side aim to break the Old Firm’s 40-year title duopoly.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Spare a thought for us long-suffering Hull City fans (you know, the team you predicted would lose the second leg of the playoff semi-final against Millwall 1-0). Feeling safe in the knowledge we were back at Wembley hoping to make it three playoff final victories out of three, many of us have invested several hundred pounds in non-refundable train and hotel bookings. We’re now told, thanks to Southampton’s Austin Powers escapades, that the game may go ahead, but maybe it won’t. I figured the furtive finger-crossing of the semi-finals was over but with tickets going on sale on Friday (maybe) it’s a case of caveat emptor. And the 4.30pm kick-off only just announced makes it a challenge for folk to get home on the same night. It’s grim up north” – David Burnby.

I understand plans are afoot to have some sort of extravagant Super Bowl-style entertainment at half-time during the Geopolitics World Cup final. Given the time now being taken over VAR adjudication, it’s surely only a matter of time before some entertainment pops up here to keep people engaged. I was wondering if any clubs are already on the case, perhaps some are indulging in a round or two of ‘I spy, with my little eye’?” – Michael Lloyd.

Jonathan Liew ponders why VAR is getting more frequent if the much-reviled technology only generates a constant stream of outrage, debate and engagement. Isn’t that the point?” – Z Snook.

Xabi Alonso will bring essential recent experience to Chelsea – particularly his familiarity with being ushered through the door marked Do One only months into a long-term contract …” – Phil Taverner.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … David Burnby. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

MBAPPÉ GOES FOURTH

All is not well between Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid. Apparently scoring 41 goals from 41 games in all competitions is simply not good enough, according to Álvaro Arbeloa and a section of the club’s notoriously hard-to-please fanbase. The situation is such that Mbappé bemoaned he is now Madrid’s “fourth striker” after being omitted from the starting XI for the 2-0 win over Oviedo on Thursday. “I have no problem at all with Arbeloa,” parped the Frenchman. “You have to accept the coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Viní, Gonzalo [García] and [Franco] Mastantuono.“ The club’s most recent gripe with the 27-year-old seems to be that he disappeared to Sardinia to recover from knack – although he claims Madrid authorised that trip. What goes in Mbappé’s favour is the increasing likelihood he will outlast Arbeloa. What seems less favourable for him, however, is the possible return of famed shrinking violet José Mourinho to the manager’s role.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

Michael Carrick is this close to being confirmed as the next permanent head coach at Manchester United after being offered a two-year gig.

Séamus Coleman is bringing his Everton playing career to a close after a remarkable 17-year stay. After arriving for £60,000 and a packet of sweets from Sligo Rovers, the full-back has become the club’s record Premier League appearance-maker. Coleman has not yet decided his next move. “I’m going to take a nice, long holiday and look back on what has been an amazing time,” he tooted.

Another Premier League defender bidding farewell to his club this summer is Marcos Senesi. The 29-year-old will leave Bournemouth when his contract expires. “[The Cherries] will always hold a special place for me,” he chirped. Senesi will make a smart freebie for somebody.

Some GWC squad news! There is no place for Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga in France’s all-star squad; while Kaoru Mitoma’s hamstring-twang means the Brighton winger misses out for Japan. Bosnia and Herzegovina (40-year-old Edin Dzeko in), New Zealand (Chris Wood et al) and Sweden (is Isak fully fit?) are the other nations to have announced their final 26-man squads.

Meanwhile, Rudi Garcia has highlighted the scarcity of good Belgian forwards around after saying he had no choice but to pick an “out of shape” Romelu Lukaku in his GWC squad. “I’m not sure he’ll be able to start the matches,” he sighed. “But he’s our best striker.”

Eddie Howe has hinted Anthony Gordon may have played his final match for Newcastle amid speculation the winger is Bayern Munich-bound. “When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing we’ll be looking to next year,” sniffed Howe.

Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea this summer when her contract expires, ending her six-and-a-half-year spell in west London. “When I reflect on my Chelsea career, I just feel happy,” she cheered.

And the nominees for the Premier League’s player of the season, young player and manager of the season have been revealed, with Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Michael Carrick two of the more surprising names shortlisted, despite being absent – either figuratively or quite literally – until January.

STILL WANT MORE?

Get your 10 Premier League and FA Cup final things to look out for this weekend right here, right now.

Who should win the main Premier League player-of-the-year gong? Harry Paterson of WhoScored goes through the runners and riders.

The awarding of a last-gasp penalty for Celtic against Motherwell may have set up a title-decider for the ages, but Ewan Murray argues the debacle shows why VAR should be scrapped in Scottish football.

Wreathed with more than 150 years of hopes, dreams and drama, the FA Cup trophy reflects true sporting heritage and mystique, writes Emma John.

In an exclusive extract from their book, Rob Draper and Jonathan Northcroft reveal the remarkable process, including a secret meeting at Munich airport, which led to Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as England manager.

And have a go at the sport quiz of the week. You know you want to.

MEMORY LANE

20 April 1985: Aberdeen’s Billy Stark races through midfield in a 1-1 draw against Celtic in the last season that a team outside the Old Firm won the Scottish title. Dons signing Frank McDougall scored 24 goals in his debut season at Pittodrie as Alex Ferguson led the club to the title with a record points total at the time of 59 from a possible 72.

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