An epic showdown is set for this Saturday at the legendary Wembley Stadium, where Chelsea and Manchester City will clash in the FA Cup final, a match that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats. However, the statistics are not in favor of the Blues, who are facing a deep crisis in a season marked by dramatic highs and lows.
After a brilliant triumph at the Club World Cup, Chelsea seemed poised to thrive in the 2025/26 season under the management of Italian Enzo Maresca. But the unexpected departure of the coach opened the door to a collapse. Calum McFarlane took over on an interim basis for a week before Liam Rosenior arrived, who started strongly but quickly saw the team crumble, leading to another intervention by McFarlane until the end of the season.
Since the victory over Aston Villa on March 4, Chelsea has not won a single Premier League match, suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to none other than Manchester City, their opponent this Saturday. The Blues have only secured victories on their path to the FA Cup final, but their record against the citizens is disheartening: Chelsea has not beaten City since May 2021, having scored just seven goals and conceded 25 in official encounters since then.
Manchester City is a true nightmare for Chelsea, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 13 games against the Londoners, the longest run without a loss against any opponent since the painful drought of 17 games without a win against Arsenal, between 1999 and 2004.
The promise of goals is guaranteed, as both teams have scored in every FA Cup match this season. In fact, there has not been a goalless draw between the two since February 2019, a statistic that further fuels expectations for an offensive spectacle on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola will play in his fourth consecutive FA Cup final, an unprecedented achievement in English football, while Chelsea seeks to break a dismal streak: they have failed to score in four consecutive finals at the iconic Wembley Stadium, with their last goal dating back to 2020, against Arsenal.
The recent dominance of both clubs in the competition is evident: they are the biggest winners of the FA Cup since 2016, with City accumulating 45 victories and Chelsea 37, in addition to leading the tables for goals scored and games without conceding.
One interesting fact could mark this final: if Alejandro Garnacho starts and scores, he will be the first player to score against the same opponent in FA Cup finals representing two different teams, having previously scored for Manchester United against City in 2024.
On the City side, Erling Haaland has been a key figure, but it is surprising that in nine finals played, the Norwegian forward has never managed to score, even after 15 attempts. On the other hand, Jeremy Doku is the FA Cup king over the last two seasons, with the highest number of goals, assists, and dribbles executed in the Premier League.
In terms of absences, Chelsea will be without Estevao, Jesse Derry, and Jamie Gittens, while Garnacho, Pedro Neto, and Robert Sanchez are doubts for the decisive clash. The Manchester City has only one concern, Rodri, who is doubtful and has only a 50% chance of playing.
This confrontation is not just a final: it is a battle of stories, statistics, and ambitions. Chelsea is looking to salvage a disastrous season, while City seeks to cement its dominance and enter history as the first team to reach four consecutive FA Cup finals. What is at stake is more than a trophy — it is pride, redemption, and eternal glory. Get ready for a breath-taking Saturday of football!
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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