“I love being at Wembley” – Pep Guardiola reminisces on national stadium successes with Barcelona and Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has reminisced on successes with both the Etihad club and FC Barcelona at Wembley Stadium, speaking around the weekend’s FA Cup semi-final fixtures.

The reigning holders of the Emirates FA Cup made it successive final appearances in the competition on Saturday evening, dismissing of Premier League rivals Chelsea courtesy of a late winning goal from Bernardo Silva.

The Portuguese playmaker smashed home from close range in the final 10 minutes of the Wembley affair, making amends for his penalty mishap against Real Madrid in a shootout on Wednesday night.

Victory underneath the Wembley arch means Manchester City will return to the capital at the end of next month for a show piece FA Cup final outing in a repeat of last year’s final, with Manchester United the opponents.

Speaking as part of the official matchday programme for Manchester City against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium last weekend, Pep Guardiola has looked back on fond memories at the national arena.

“When I first began watching football as a young boy, it was these kinds of occasions that would feel really special – big games between two top teams at an iconic venue,” Pep Guardiola explained.

“To be here as Manchester City manager – with a chance to make the Final of this incredible competition once again – really is something very beautiful for me, my players and my staff. I love being at Wembley.”

Guardiola continued, “I won two Champions League titles here with Barcelona – once as a player under the old Twin Towers back in 1992 when we defeated Sampdoria, and once as a manager in 2011 when we beat Manchester United.

“And, of course, with City I have been here many, many times. I can say honestly it is always special to me and those memories will never, ever fade.”

Manchester City’s meeting with Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May 2024 will be a repeat of the previous year’s final for the first time since 1885, with the last meeting seeing the blue side of Manchester coming out 2-1 victors.

Manchester City have already visited Wembley Stadium on one previous occasion this season, meeting Arsenal in one of the first contests of the 2023/24 campaign in the traditional FA Community Shield curtain raiser.