Image source, Getty ImagesThe big day is edging nearer and the nerves are rising.
But who will come out on top when Crystal Palace take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday?
We put some questions to our fan contributors for each team to see how they are feeling before the big game...
Jay Crame
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesHere is what our Crystal Palace supporter had to say on questions put to them before the FA Cup final with Manchester City...
How confident are you that Palace can win the trophy and what would it mean?
Confidence is not a word in the Palace fan vocabulary so we will not be using that term. I think I speak for most fans when I say the nerves are starting to jangle already! This will be our third shot at winning the FA Cup so we are very much hoping that 'lady luck' will be looking down on us this time around.
For Palace to win the FA Cup would mean everything. To have come close on two occasions really does hurt. When you talk to Wigan and Portsmouth fans, to have your name on that famous old trophy means absolutely everything, no matter how the footballing gods have treated them since.
Who will be your game-changer?
The obvious answer is Eberechi Eze as he is in red-hot form heading into the final, and while he gets all the headlines, this Palace side have a number of players that could be game-changers, including Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Daniel Munoz.
But, I have not mentioned the back-line and they will be key as they have been great this season - even more so since Chris Richards returned to the starting line-up.
Who or what concerns you most about City?
It is Manchester City - outgoing Premier League champions, former Champions League winners who head into the final off the back of their worst season in some time, their star striker is back fit, and they are managed by Pep Guardiola. There is plenty there to concern us, especially as this is their last chance of silverware this campaign.
Palace do have the ammunition to beat this City side and showed some of that in the game at the Etihad a few weeks back, but more than that, the Eagles have a very astute manager. Oliver Glasner is arguably the best manager that has ever taken charge of the club and gives us the best chance of getting a victory.
Score prediction?
Do we have to? OK, so let's be bold here and go for a 2-1 win for Palace. London will literally be painted red and blue!
Find more from Jay Crame at The Eagles Beak, external
Our Manchester City fan contributor was asked three questions before the FA Cup final:
How confident are you that City can win the trophy and what would it mean?
Who will be your game-changer?
Who or what concerns you most about Crystal Palace?
This is what Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany, external had to say...
Saturday's FA Cup final will see Manchester City take on Crystal Palace at Wembley.
But should the semi-finals of the competition still be played at Wembley?
Manchester City fan Amos and Crystal Palace fan Dan give us their thoughts on the latest edition of The Football News Show.
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City are around 24 hours away from taking part in their third-consecutive FA Cup final at Wembley.
Crystal Palace are the only team standing in the way of City getting their hands on their eighth FA cup title.
Whether you are one of the lucky travelling fans or you have other plans for what could be a very special day, we want to hear from you.
Let us know how you're preparing for a big day, how the nerves are holding up, or if you're meeting up with friends already.
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesSaturday's FA Cup final could provide the dream send-off for Manchester City captain Kevin de Bruyne, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley will give City some satisfaction in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
I asked City boss Pep Guardiola about the threats that the Eagles players will provide and he mentioned Eberechi Eze's "quality", Ismaila Sarr's "pace" and how "strong" Jean-Philippe Mateta is.
But one name of interest stood out.
Guardiola said: "[Adam] Wharton is a really good holding midfielder who links well inside."
Wharton is only 21 and his performances for Palace have led to a call-up into the England national team. He could form the platform for the Three Lions in the middle of the park for years to come.
With De Bruyne departing and 34-year-old Ilkay Gundogan not hitting the heights of his first spell, City are desperately in need of a midfield rebuild.
Along with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, Wharton has been linked with a move to City in the summer.
Guardiola has clearly spotted the potential of the player and after being passed fit for the showpiece, Saturday may well be an opportunity for a City audition for Wharton.
Image source, Getty ImagesDefender Ruben Dias has been reflecting on a "frustrating" season that he says Manchester City can use as "gasoline" before they take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final this Saturday.
For only the second time in eight years, City have failed to win the Premier League title as they currently sit fourth in the table, but Dias is confident they can take away the positives.
"The way you feel a loss, it hurts, it's not a nice feeling," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "But they push you like anything else pushes you, and I take that into a good place because these will give us gasoline.
"It's frustrating but at the same time even in the most frustrating times we need to be able to look back and look at how demanding it is mentally to win four [Premier League titles] in a row, there's a reason why no one has done it before."
The 28-year-old has suffered multiple injuries this season, missing 15 games in all competitions, but he is trying to use the journey as a way to move forward.
"I've always really celebrated all of the wins I've had in my career, in my life personally, work-wise," he added.
"But I've always found a good comfort in the progression in all of the losses because they make you stronger, they make you better."
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He said the injury situation "is the same as last week" so no injured players are expected to recover for the final.
He said "it's an honour and a privilege" to be in a third consecutive FA Cup final and "it is massively important" to them to win the competition.
Rodri "is much, much better," with Guardiola adding: "I am waiting for the doctors. When they tell me he is ready he is going to start. We don't want to take a risk and take a step back."
On opponents Palace: "It is a fantastic team. They have had a really good second part of the season. They have had more than a year with Oliver [Glasner] working with the same players."
He said Palace "are a threat because they have quality" in attack. Guardiola added: [Jean-Philippe] Mateta is strong and the quality in [Eberechi] Eze is obvious, and of course the pace from [Ismaila] Sarr. They are well structured defensively and their set pieces is one of the best in the Premier League."
On whether a signing like Florian Wirtz would be the perfect start to the club's recruitment: "This is not the time to talk about that. I have 24 exceptional players. I am not going to talk one second about the future."
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIt's a monumental four days in Manchester City's season, one in which they have fallen below their high standards.
Pep Guardiola's side face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, their only hope of collecting a major trophy this season. The Spanish boss, though, said they are going for their "second" piece of silverware after winning the Community Shield in August.
Then on Tuesday, City host Bournemouth in the race for the top five, knowing they will play in the Champions League next season if Aston Villa fail to beat Tottenham tonight then defeating the Cherries next week.
Guardiola has already said the season has not been good enough, but will he change his mind with a good end to the campaign?
And what of Erling Haaland's comments to BBC Sport this week saying the season has been "horrific" and "boring"?
We'll find out when he faces the cameras this afternoon.
It hasn't been the season that Manchester City wanted but their bid for a top-five finish is still in their own hands, despite their slip-up against Southampton last week, and they will see it as being important that they end up with a trophy.
Most clubs would be absolutely delighted with that, including Palace, but for Pep Guardiola and for City, it won't be good enough.
I just have a feeling this is going to be a classic FA Cup final - I really hope so, anyway.
We know Palace can cause City problems from their trip to Etihad Stadium a few weeks ago.
City won 5-2 in the end but I don't think that scoreline really reflects what a close contest it was - Palace went 2-0 up and only a marginal offside call stopped them from leading 3-0 before Pep's side fought back.
That will give Palace plenty of confidence, even though City will be favourites and have got lots more experience of a big occasion.
So, this will be close. I am going to go with my heart over my head and say that, this time, Palace will win.
Sutton's prediction: 3-2
Image source, Getty ImagesThe race for Champions League football is heating up with only four spots up for grabs. Only confirmed team in Europe's premier competition for next season are the champions Liverpool.
Arsenal have been chasing the champions all season long but a deep run in Europe has seen them take their eye of the ball domestically. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Newcastle United closed the gap on the North London club and are within striking distance.
Clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest all very much still in the race but one team will miss out. Let's have a look at which clubs can decide their faith this weekend -
Arsenal will clinch a Champions League spot if they beat Newcastle on Sunday.
A draw will also be enough unless Chelsea and Aston Villa both win on Friday, and Manchester City avoid defeat on Tuesday. But because the Gunners' goal difference is significantly better than the sides below them, a draw will realistically ensure a top-five spot, regardless of results elsewhere.
If they lose, Arsenal will qualify for Europe's elite competition should Villa fail to win or if both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest fail to win. This takes into account that Forest host Chelsea on the final day and both sides cannot catch the Gunners.
Because of Arsenal's goal difference, the only scenario in which they could retain a realistic chance of missing out on Champions League qualification would be if they lose and both Chelsea and Villa win.
A win will guarantee Newcastle a Champions League place UNLESS Chelsea and Aston Villa both win and Manchester City avoid defeat. But because of their goal difference advantage over Villa, a win will realistically ensure a top-five spot for Eddie Howe's side, regardless of results elsewhere.
A draw will be good enough if:
- Aston Villa lose (as Forest play Chelsea on the final day and both sides wouldn't be able to overtake the Magpies)
- Chelsea lose and Nottingham Forest fail to win
Should Newcastle and Villa both draw, Eddie Howe's side would be realistically assured of Champions League qualification because of their goal difference. The same applies if the Magpies lose, Villa also lose and either Forest or Chelsea fail to win.
Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League if they defeat Bournemouth and Villa fail to win, OR City claim victory and both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest fail to win.
Because of City's goal difference, a point against the Cherries will realistically be enough if Chelsea or Forest fail to win and Aston Villa lose.
Chelsea can't mathematically clinch a top-five spot before the final day – but if they win and both Villa and Forest lose, their superior goal difference would make it all but certain. Should Chelsea win, Villa lose and Forest draw, the Londoners would have to lose their last game (against Forest) by at least four goals to be caught.
Note - Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest currently occupy sixth and seventh in the Premier League table and will need results to go their way even if they win the remainder of their matches.
Image source, Getty ImagesCrystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is set to be the first Austrian to take charge of a team in the FA Cup final, while opposition manager Pep Guardiola has won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup four times in his time in England so far.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has failed to score in any of his five appearances at Wembley, with three of those coming in the FA Cup. This is the most games Haaland has played for City at a specific venue without finding the net.
Palace forward Eddie Nketiah has been involved in a goal in each of his past three FA Cup appearances (two goals, one assist), all as a substitute. He has also won the FA Cup once before, playing eight minutes from the bench in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea in 2020.
Image source, Getty ImagesKyle Walker has praised Pep Guardiola for making sure the families of the players and the staff were present when the team celebrated their successes.
Walker, at AC Milan on loan, won six Premier League titles and a Champions League, along with numerous other cups, while playing under the tutelage of Guardiola.
"Pep [Guardiola] is massive with that," Walker said on The Kyle Walker Podcast. "I think every trophy.... when we lift the trophy, he makes sure that all the families, all the kit men's families, their kids and everyone get to come on to the pitch, take a picture with the trophy - because it's not just our trophy.
"We had all worked extremely hard throughout the season to get to where we wanted to get to. And nine times out of 10, we achieved that dream, especially in the Premier League, and they needed to enjoy the moment just as much as we did."
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen you are a neutral, we all like an upset in the FA Cup final, but it is a big task for Crystal Palace to beat Manchester City on Saturday.
Since some heavy defeats against City and Newcastle, Palace seems to have turned a corner. They beat Aston Villa in the semi-final in a fantastic day at Wembley for them. They have showed a little bit of consistency and momentum from that.
But this is Palace's first FA Cup final in nine years and only their third overall. Whereas for Manchester City, a trip to Wembley is a regular thing at the end of the season. That know-how and experience can play a big part on these big days - that energy, that excitement of players, at times it can drain a lot out of you. When you are playing against a team that is used to these environments, it can be quite difficult.
Palace will certainly have changed their style and tactics since those two defeats where they conceded 10 goals. They will be defensively more resilient, they will be harder to beat, but I think it will still be a difficult task. However, it is an FA Cup final and you never know what is going to happen. Who expected Manchester United to beat City last year? Not many of us.
Oliver Glasner's side come into this with some momentum and good confidence, while you can look at Manchester City against Southampton, arguably City did dominate and just could not get the ball in the back of the net, so could that be something Crystal Palace look at?
With Ebere Eze and Jean-Phillippe Mateta on transitions, they are players that can make a real difference. Tactically it will be a really interesting one, but we know Manchester City are cup final kings.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen's 22-year-old forward Florian Wirtz over a potential summer move. (Bild), external
However, Liverpool have also made contact with Wirtz to express an interest in signing the playmaker this summer. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Arsenal, are circling 24-year-old Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, amid reports of the Brazilian falling out with club staff. (AS - in Spanish), external
Image source, Getty ImagesFor the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.
The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.
Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.
When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.
It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.
I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.
I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has won the Premier League 2 player of the season award.
The 19-year-old becomes the first defender to win the award and follows Carlos Borges, James McAtee and Liam Delap as the fourth City player in five seasons to claim the gong.
Captain Simpson-Pusey led City to the top of the PL2 table and the side will face Southampton in the play-off final.
His performances have led him to City's first team, making his senior debut in the Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham in October, and going on to make five further appearances for Pep Guardiola's side.
"To receive this award in such a competitive league with lots of amazing talent is a huge honour for me," said Simpson-Pusey.
"I feel like this has been my best season representing City and I'm really glad it's helped the team win the PL2 league and reach the play-off final, which we are excited to be competing in."
