The 145th FA Cup final arrives at Wembley on Saturday with Manchester City heavily favoured to lift the trophy against Chelsea. BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has forecast a stunning 0-5 victory for Pep Guardiola’s side, a scoreline that would equal the largest margin in FA Cup final history. City, still fighting for a Premier League title, are riding a wave of momentum after a midweek win over Crystal Palace, while Chelsea have limped through a turbulent season, prompting fan protests against the club’s ownership.
Chelsea have not beaten Manchester City in any of their last 13 meetings across all competitions. Their last success came in the 2021 Champions League final under Thomas Tuchel, when Kai Havertz’s goal secured European glory. Since then, the rivalry has been one-way traffic, with City repeatedly exploiting defensive frailties and a lack of cohesion in the Chelsea ranks. This season, the Blues languish in ninth place in the Premier League, having won just three of their last ten league fixtures. Their reliance on individual sparks from talents like Joao Pedro has not translated into consistent team performances, and a defence that has conceded 52 league goals faces an almost impossible task against Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.
Adding to Chelsea’s woes is the injury to highly rated youngster Estevao, who has been sidelined in recent weeks and will miss the final. The Brazilian winger’s absence further limits interim head coach Calum McFarlane’s attacking options, putting additional pressure on an already stretched squad. McFarlane, appointed after Liam Rosenior’s dismissal in April, has overseen a mixed bag of results, with the team’s form fading badly after a promising start to the campaign.
Rapper and vocal Chelsea supporter Songer, whose full name is James Songer, has been outspoken about the club’s direction under owners BlueCo. In an interview with BBC Sport, he described the situation as “a circus” and expressed deep frustration with the regime. “It has been infuriating for the fans to be dragged into it,” Songer said. “Our club should not be guinea pigs for their pet project.” He acknowledged a fear that an FA Cup triumph might falsely validate the ownership’s strategy, which he believes has led to a disastrous season. Songer pointed out that without the early-season form, Chelsea would be mired in a relegation battle alongside the likes of Tottenham.
Songer also addressed the looming managerial vacancy at Stamford Bridge. While he would love to see former midfielder Cesc Fabregas take charge, he conceded that Fabregas is content at Como. Other options like a returning Antonio Conte or Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso seem unlikely, with the owners favoring a less confrontational figure. Songer suggested Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola as the most probable appointment but pledged support regardless of the choice. The uncertainty around the dugout underscores the broader instability at Chelsea, a sharp contrast to the dynastic aura at Manchester City.
For City, the FA Cup final is an opportunity to secure a domestic double after March’s Carabao Cup triumph and to build momentum for the title run-in. Yet Guardiola’s own future remains a hot topic, with his contract expiring in 2026 and rumours of a summer exit. Blossoms frontman Tom Ogden and drummer Joe Donovan, both lifelong City fans, reflected on the possibility of Guardiola’s departure in a BBC Sport conversation. “You just have to enjoy the years we’ve had with an amazing manager like that,” Tom said. “It has to end at some point.” Joe added that the focus should be on celebrating a decade of unprecedented success, including a historic Treble and four consecutive Premier League titles.
Both Tom and Joe expressed confidence in the current squad’s ability to deliver at Wembley. “Winning anything is a good season, especially when you consider this is a new team,” Joe noted. Tom emphasised the challenges of rebuilding after key departures, but praised the fact that City remain in contention for the league crown and have already secured one trophy. With Haaland rested midweek and Cherki in scintillating form, the attacking firepower available to Guardiola makes Sutton’s 0-5 prediction less outlandish, particularly given Chelsea’s propensity for defensive collapses on their off days.
Away from Wembley, the weekend’s Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Liverpool also attracted predictions from the panel. Villa are caught between a Europa League final against Freiburg and a Premier League match that could prove pivotal for European qualification. Manager Unai Emery faces a selection dilemma: rest players and risk losing momentum, or field a strong side and gamble on fatigue. Sutton opted for a 1-1 draw, noting the difficulty of predicting games at this stage due to external factors. Songer backed Villa to win 2-1, citing Liverpool’s vanishing momentum, while Tom predicted a 1-0 Villa victory and Joe a 1-0 Liverpool win.
The AI tool, using Microsoft Copilot Chat, forecast a 1-2 Liverpool win, further illustrating the unpredictability of late-season fixtures. As Sutton acknowledged, the convergence of European commitments, injuries, and tactical resting makes these predictions uniquely volatile. For the FA Cup final, however, the consensus leans overwhelmingly towards Manchester City, a reflection of the chasm in quality and consistency between the two sides this season.
The FA Cup final will be decided on the day, with extra time and penalties if necessary. While Chelsea fans cling to the memory of Porto 2021, the evidence of the intervening years points to a City coronation. Whether Sutton’s 0-5 prediction materialises or not, the occasion will lay bare the contrasting trajectories of two clubs: one chasing a dynasty’s crowning jewel, the other desperately seeking identity. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
