Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne will be aiming to win one final trophy before leaving the club this summer. PA
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne will be aiming to win one final trophy before leaving the club this summer. PA
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne will be aiming to win one final trophy before leaving the club this summer. PA
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne will be aiming to win one final trophy before leaving the club this summer. PA

FA Cup final talking points: Man City ending 'horrific' season on high, Eze on Crystal Palace hot streak


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All eyes turn to Wembley Stadium this weekend as Crystal Palace take on Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup final.

While City are hoping to lift the cup for an eighth time, Palace aim to secure the first piece of major silverware in their history.

Here are the main talking points ahead of the big game in London.

Can Man City put some gloss on 'horrific' season?

Manchester City go into the Wembley final looking to end a troubled season by securing the third FA Cup of Pep Guardiola's nine-year reign.

The Spaniard has endured the toughest campaign of his coaching career, one that has seen an unprecedented losing streak, serious injuries to key players and their four-season grip on the Premier League title broken by Liverpool.

“This season has been tough,” striker Erling Haaland admitted to BBC Sport. “It is not nice to lose so many games, it is boring and not fun. That's why we need to finish well and get a trophy.

“We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this, that says it all.”

But even if they do overcome Palace, then seal a top-five Premier League spot and the Uefa Champions League place that goes with it – Guardiola has already made his feelings clear.

“We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool,” he said after beating Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals. “I said many times the season hasn't been good because we define if the season is good or not with the Premier League.”

Will Glasner lead Palace to first ever trophy?

While City target the 19th piece of silverware of the Guardiola reign, opponents Palace are aiming for the their first ever major trophy.

Eagles manager Oliver Glasner can write his name into club folklore by overcoming City, although the final comes just one month after Palace's 5-2 league thumping at the Etihad Stadium.

The German's first full season in charge has seen Palace equal their best ever Premier League points total of 49 – with two games still to play – and will see them compete in the FA Cup final for a third time.

It would be the second trophy of Glasner's coaching career, having guided German side Eintracht Frankfurt to the Uefa Europa League crown in 2022.

And the 50-year-old admitted before last week's Premier League win over Tottenham that his rise to success would be a shock to the Glasner of a decade ago.

“I was managing in the Austrian second league 10 years ago,” said Glasner. “And if you told me, '10 years later, you will have won the Europa League and you will be facing an FA Cup final with a Premier League side', I would say, 'visit the doctor'.”

Could Marmoush make old coach pay?

Looking to deny Glasner and Palace their moment of glory could be his former player Omar Marmoush.

Guardiola has hinted that the Egyptian – who has seven goals in 19 City appearances – is in the running to start at Wembley, alongside fit-again top-scorer Haaland

The attacker played under Glasner at German side Wolfsburg while still a rough diamond fresh from the Egyptian league, before the coach left for Frankfurt.

Marmoush would spend three years at Wolfsburg – that included loan spells at St Pauli and Stuttgart – before joining Frankfurt on a free transfer in 2023, ironically just as Glasner left the club.

It was at Frankfurt that Marmoush's form stepped up to a level that would ultimately earn a big-money move to City in January.

“He has all the abilities to become one of the top strikers in the world,” said Glasner ahead of their league clash last month. “We could see from day one, when he trained with us [at Wolfsburg].

“Immediately he showed at Manchester City the kind of striker he is, so I'm really pleased for him.”

Can Eze continue his hot streak?

Heading to Wembley in flying form is Eberechi Eze after the Palace attacker made it five goals in four games with a double against Spurs last week.

Eze is enjoying what is comfortably the most productive season of his career with 12 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, as well as scoring his first goal for England against Latvia in March.

“It’s been a weird season,” Eze said of his own form after the win at Spurs. “But I have gradually got there. [I’m] gradually getting some rhythm and playing how I want to be playing, helping the team as much as I can. It’s a good time right now.”

“He's scored some amazing goals,” said Glasner of his star player. “It's good to have him in great shape.”

The fear for Glanser and Palace will be that the 26-year-old follows in the footsteps of former teammate Michael Olise – who has been a revelation since joining German giants Bayern Munich last summer – and heads for the Selhurst Park exit.

Will De Bruyne win one final trophy at City?

The Kevin De Bruyne era at Manchester City will soon be over after the club decided against giving the Belgian a new contract.

He will leave the Etihad this summer after 10 years having long since secured his status as one of the all-time great Premier League players, winning six league titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and one Champions League.

There will be no shortage of suitors for De Bruyne, 33, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Italy, as well as remaining in England.

Wherever he ends up, there is no doubting the impact he has made at City after making 419 appearances, scoring 109 goals and providing 177 assists for grateful teammates.

“It's almost impossible to replace this kind of player,” admitted Guardiola earlier this month. “It is not just the performance, it is what he means to the heart for our fans for many, many years.”

PLAY-OFF%20DRAW
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Results

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.

Results

2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.

4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.

4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Rating: 2/5
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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