Star striker Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a ‘horrific’ season that saw them deposed as English champions for the first time in five years, while also being ousted by Real Madrid from the Champions League’s Playoff round.
Pep Guardiola’s team face Crystal Palace at Wembley aiming to avoid a first trophy-less campaign since the Spanish coach’s debut season in charge in 2016-17.
City sit fourth in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool, and are embroiled in a battle to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season in their final two league matches.
“This season has been tough. 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,” Haaland told the BBC.
“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this,” he added.
The Norwegian striker is set to start the final after making his comeback from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, while City have been beset by fitness troubles for a series of key defenders. However, Haaland said that should offer no excuses to a club with resources as vast as City’s.
“Of course, we have had injuries throughout the season. But we should not search for excuses,” said Haaland.
“Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough and we haven’t been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren’t going to win games in this country because it’s so hard,” he added.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are on the hunt for their maiden FA Cup title. Oliver Glasner’s talented side have punched above their weight this season and will be keen to go one step further than they did in 1990, when the lost the FA Cup to Manchester United.