Pep Guardiola blamed Manchester City's FA Cup final defeat on players being "hungover" from post-title celebrations. Despite late-night partying before the match, the team lost 2-1 to Manchester United. Guardiola acknowledged the impact on performance and addressed the squad's current injury crisis as they face a challenging season.
In a candid reflection on last season's FA Cup final, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attributed his team's surprising 2-1 defeat to Manchester United to the players being “a little bit hungover.” This comment came five months after the match, which was held shortly after City celebrated their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
During the post-title celebrations, players, including Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, partied late into the night, reportedly until 5 a.m. at a Greek restaurant. Guardiola noted that the players’ late-night revelry might have impacted their performance at Wembley, where United took a commanding 2-0 lead by halftime, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Although Jeremy Doku scored late for City, it was not enough to secure victory.
In his recent remarks, Guardiola acknowledged the heavy toll the festivities may have taken on his squad. “Of course, with the FA Cup final, we were a little bit hungover,” he admitted. He previously accepted responsibility for the defeat, stating that his tactical plans had not been effective. With injuries plaguing the team, Guardiola faces challenges as City strives to maintain their competitive edge this season. As they navigate a tough fixture schedule, he emphasized the difficulties stemming from the lack of available players, stating, "We're in trouble. I've never had this situation in nine years."
