Manchester City

In terms of team news, it is largely positive for Manchester City after Pep Guardiola made several changes in midweek.

On whether midfielder Rodri will be available for the final, Guardiola said: "We will see. We travel and we will see."

Otherwise, he says: "Everybody else is fit."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also asked how much the Premier League game against Bournemouth will be in his mind when selecting his team for the FA Cup final.

"Zero," he replies. "It is the final of the FA Cup."

On what his message will be to the players before Saturday's final, he adds: "The message will be how we have to move, run and play to beat Chelsea. The message is there are two prestigious clubs at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Our fans make an incredible effort to come down to London. It is not cheap. We try to perform as much as possible to win. It is always the gameplan."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Asked whether he will consider the season a success should Manchester City win two domestic trophies, by adding the FA Cup to their League Cup triumph, but fail to pip Arsenal to the Premier League, Pep Guardiola responded:

"It depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you lift trophies and the season has been successful.

"Sometimes, you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad.

"I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

There's another joke from Pep Guardiola when he's asked about reports that Manchester City's fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor are set to leave the club - and whether that has anything to do with his future at the club.

"I extended the contract with them three more years," he quips, before adding: "Nope."

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola is on good form today.

The Manchester City boss jokes that he is "so disappointed" in English football that he has not yet had a stand named after him at Wembley yet - or at least a lounge or a box - given how many times he has led Manchester City there over the years.

It's the 24th time he's taken Manchester City to Wembley.

"Maybe if I go 24 more times..." he says.

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking before the FA Cup final, says: "There's excitement, of course. I hope we can do better than the last two times.

"It's new players and it's forgotten. A new game against Chelsea.

"We are in the final and we have to try to win the trophy."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Here is Pep Guardiola now.

A reminder you can listen to everything he has to say at the top of this page.

"Hopefully we can do better than the last two times," Guardiola says, as his side aim to avoid a third straight FA Cup final loss.

The Spaniard says "we'll see" when asked about midfielder Rodri's availability for tomorrow's showdown with Chelsea.

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are the first team to play in four consecutive FA Cup finals at Wembley Stadium.

They beat Manchester United 2-1 in 2023, but were defeated by their local rivals the following year, losing 2-1 in 2024.

Crystal Palace won their first ever FA Cup trophy after they defeated City 1-0 last year.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night kept them within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, denying the Gunners the chance to clinch a first league title in 22 years when they host already-relegated Burnley on Monday.

Instead, the earliest Mikel Arteta's side can get their hands on the championship is next Tuesday, when City travel to Bournemouth.

If Arsenal beat Burnley on Monday, City would have to win on the south coast to take the Premier League title race to the final day of the season.

If they do, victory against Crystal Palace next Sunday would be enough for Arsenal to seal the title, regardless of how City get on in their final match against Aston Villa.

Here is how a much-changed Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

After bidding for a second domestic trophy this season in the FA Cup final, following their League Cup success, they return to league action next Tuesday at European hopefuls Bournemouth.

Manchester City

Once he arrives, you'll be able to follow Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's news conference live at the top of this page as, still in the think of a Premier League title race, he previews Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Chris Sutton
BBC Sport predictions expert

This is a proper dead rubber, with Nottingham Forest safe now, and Manchester United guaranteed a Champions League spot.

That makes it harder to call but United boss Michael Carrick will still be desperate for a strong end of the season and retain the feel-good factor at Old Trafford.

Nottingham Forest won't want to let their season just peter out, either, but the pressure is off them now and, because of that, I am backing United here - this game is more important to them than it is to Forest.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Manchester United

That's all from Manchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

While he wouldn't confirm whether he has had any clarity on his future, he said he expects that to be confirmed "pretty soon" - with a decision always expected to come "towards the end of the season".

Carrick said he will address the fans at Old Trafford on Sunday to thank them following their final home game against Nottingham Forest.

And, perhaps tellingly, he said he is "happy with the work we’ve done so far"...

Next, we'll hear from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Manchester United

And a final answer from Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, who was asked about - and praised - assistant Steve Holland: "Steve has been fantastic. He’s got an awful lot of experience, he’s seen everything before, gone through it, some good times and more challenging times.

"He’s a very wise man, he says things that are important at the right time.

"Just general calmness and composure, for me and my staff, the players as well, the dynamics of bringing something a bit different.

"Steve is in that role where he has the experience to lean on. There's absolutely no shame in that at all."

Manchester United

Asked about what he believes this Manchester United team can achieve in the upcoming years, Michael Carrick replied: "You’ve always got to aim upwards. That’s the beauty of football and competition, to achieve something and back it up, improve on things, that’s always the challenge.

"For the players, for the squad, for the whole group, for the club, we want to keep moving in a positive way and in the right direction.

"The closer you get to the top the less room for progress, but progress is what needs to be aimed for."

Manchester United

In terms of team news, Michael Carrick confirmed that Casemiro is available on Sunday but striker Benjamin Sesko might not be ready:

"Ben’s not as straightforward," says Carrick.

"He’s still not 100% with the problem he's already had.

Apart from that, we’re alright [in terms of the squad]."

Manchester United

Asked about what being in charge of Manchester United and leading them back into the Champions League has meant to him, Michael Carrick says: "It’s a unique football club, a special football club. I'm immensely proud to have come back and been a part of it, to help.

"As a supporter and ex-player, as a pure supporter and caring about the club so much, to come back and help and move the club forward was important.

"To make a big step and get back in the Champions League is good. We’re happy with the work we’ve done so far."

Manchester United

Manchester United caretaker head coach Michael Carrick has also been asked about Brazil midfielder Casemiro, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season:

"Case’s available [against Nottingham Forest]. I can speak since I’ve been here and met him and worked with him, he's been fantastic for us, for me personally, what he’s given us," Carrick says.

"The clarity helps, knowing the situation, for him and for us, for him to get his head in a place where he can give absolutely everything now it’s going to come to an end.

"It is a credit to him for the way he’s gone about that. Just because it is coming to the end and the clarity with it, it is easy to go to the other way as well. He’s fully invested, fully supported us as staff in the performances he’s given. He’s had some ups and downs over the year, to finish so strongly and see that connection with the supporters is really good to see."

Manchester United

Michael Carrick has also confirmed his intention to address the supporters on the pitch following Sunday's game against Nottingham Forest and explained why he felt that was important.

"I think that’s important regardless of the situation. The supporters are a massive part of this club. We thank them - and I certainly thank them - for the season and the support, the last four months for me personally," Carrick said.

"Regardless of that [his future], for what we’ve gone through and that connection, the players have felt that, it’s important we have that anyway.

"It’s important for me to thank the fans for that."

Manchester United

Michael Carrick has not had anything new to add on his own future at the club, despite the expectation that he will be recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the club's next permanent boss.

Asked about his future, he had this to say:

"[I] can’t blame you for asking. [There are] two games to go, there's not much else I can say.

"The situation is pretty clear for us all. Same as. It doesn’t change what we are doing this week.

"The future for me is going to be decided pretty soon, we knew that it was going to be towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season.

"Nothing has changed, there is no big swing on that. That is what it is. Whatever is beyond that is pretty close around the corner anyway."