Manchester City handed significant fitness boost ahead of FA Cup Final as four first-team stars return to training

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have been handed a major fitness boost ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City travel to North London to face rivals Manchester United in the 2023 Emirates FA Cup Final this weekend, as the Sky Blues continue their bid to complete the treble.

Pep Guardiola’s side also have a UEFA Champions League Final fast approaching, playing Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday 10th June.

Having secured their third Premier League title with three matches to spare, games against Brighton and Brentford saw significant changes made to the Manchester City team.

City drew 1-1 with Brighton at the AMEX last Wednesday and suffered a first defeat since February against Brentford on Sunday, as Ethan Pinnock’s late goal secured the Bees’ second win of the season against the Blues.

Four Manchester City first-team players were absent from the squad for the trip to West London, with Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and Kevin De Bruyne all missing.

Guardiola gave a concerning update on the fitness of the four players following the defeat to Brentford, revealing that both Dias and Grealish had missed 10 days of training.

“Ruben [Dias] didn’t train 10 days, [Jack] Grealish neither,” said the Catalan on Sunday afternoon.

“After Brighton, Kevin [De Bruyne] felt the same feelings as before, a few weeks ago. They couldn’t play a few games. 

In a welcome boost ahead of Saturday’s huge clash against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, all four players returned first-team training on Wednesday.

Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and Kevin De Bruyne were all pictured taking part in first-team training at the City Football Academy prior to a potentially historic week for Manchester City.

The Blues haven’t won the FA Cup since 2019 and despite putting six goals by Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in October, suffered a 2-1 loss at Old Trafford in January.

Players spotted in Manchester City training included: Ortega, Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Ake, Stones, Akanji, Gomez, Laporte, Galvez, Charles, Bernardo, Robertson, Rodri, Gundogan, Phillips, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish, Foden, Haaland.

Pep Guardiola will have a fully fit squad for this weekend’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, meanwhile Manchester United announced an injury blow ahead of the weekend, revealing that forward Anthony Martial would miss the Final on Saturday due to injury.