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<\/p>\nManchester City edged an instantly forgettable FA Cup final on Saturday, thanks to a moment of magic from Antoine Semenyo (\u00a38.1m).<\/p>\n
The winger\u2019s backheeled winner was out of keeping with the rest of a tight, turgid game, in which neither side created many chances.<\/p>\n
As ever, we\u2019ll reflect on the game from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective in these Scout Notes.<\/p>\n
BIG GUNS RETURN<\/p>\n
Above image from BBC Sport<\/a><\/p>\n After some tinkering in midweek, and ignoring the \u2018cup goalkeeper\u2019 between the sticks, Pep Guardiola went back to what most of us would see as his first-choice XI \u2013 with maybe one exception that we\u2019ll discuss in a moment.<\/p>\n Phil Foden (\u00a38.0m), after all his heroics against Crystal Palace, failed to even get off the bench.<\/p>\n Even Guardiola suggested after the game that this XI was, largely, his go-to group.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took time to click something. I missed\u00a0something during the process. We made a lot of\u00a0different shapes and pressing, this player with the other player. We had the feeling that in the last two\u00a0months, I felt some stability with the team that I didn\u2019t find maybe in the past. But it\u2019s normal because a lot of new players, injured players, and\u00a0sometimes you need a little bit more time.\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola on his side\u2019s recent good form<\/p>\n CHERKI BENCHED \u2013 BUT ENCOURAGINGLY ON AT HALF-TIME<\/p>\n Where does this leave Rayan Cherki (\u00a36.6m), though?<\/p>\n He was benched for the second successive match, and this time, a \u2018breather\u2019 couldn\u2019t be used as an excuse.<\/p>\n Omar Marmoush (\u00a38.3m) instead joined Erling Haaland (\u00a314.7m) in a two-pronged strike force.<\/p>\n But, some encouragement.<\/p>\n Marmoush had a poor first half (not that he was alone), a tentative flick at goal from close range being his only effort. He was hooked at the break.<\/p>\n On came Cherki. The Frenchman was a modest improvement on what went before, without setting the world alight. He stung the palms of Robert Sanchez (\u00a34.8m) late on and made more final-third passes than anyone in the game<\/a>, despite his limited minutes, although there wasn\u2019t one \u2018chance created\u2019 and there were times when he held onto the ball too long.<\/p>\n Guardiola didn\u2019t sound overly enthusiastic after full-time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought that Caicedo jumps a lot to Rodri, the space was behind. We tried to find in that position, Cherki, and after the jump, with his ability to try to contact in behind with Erling or Antoine, but sometimes, the tactical board is perfect, but we didn\u2019t find it.\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola on his half-time change<\/p>\n All eyes on Tuesday\u2019s teamsheet.<\/p>\n \u201cHome. Not even one beer.\u00a0Next Monday, after Aston Villa, we\u2019re going to\u00a0celebrate it with the women\u2019s team.\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola<\/p>\n SEMENYO ON THE SCORESHEET AGAIN<\/p>\n Another 90 minutes for Semenyo, and another goal.<\/p>\n His barren run was brought to an end on Wednesday against Palace and he was on target again here, brilliantly flicking in Haaland\u2019s low pass.<\/p>\n The Ghanaian winger wasn\u2019t dazzling all game, and often wasteful, but he was the likeliest source of a goal. Five of City\u2019s nine shots came from him, including an excellent headed opportunity from Nico O\u2019Reilly\u2018s (\u00a35.3m) cross.<\/p>\n Haaland, by contrast, only had the one effort, repelled by Sanchez at his near post.<\/p>\n Guardiola admitted after full-time that he hadn\u2019t expected to see Chelsea roll out a five-man defence, and the Blues\u2019 tactical set-up certainly suffocated the Cityzens for large periods.<\/p>\n GVARDIOL, AIT-NOURI AND OTHERS NOT IN SQUAD \u2013 BUT NO INJURIES<\/p>\n Josko Gvardiol (\u00a35.8m), Rayan Ait-Nouri (\u00a35.7m) and a few others were absent from the City squad on Saturday.<\/p>\n No injuries this time, however, just a bloated, fully fit squad that couldn\u2019t be accommodated by 20 matchday spots.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot overcome that feeling, that it\u2019s difficult to swallow the fact that\u00a0many incredible players cannot play. So, I leave six players in the tribune today, players who\u00a0played the last game, who could not play today.\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola<\/p>\n CHELSEA SOLID AS ALONSO COMES ABOARD Above image from BBC Sport<\/a><\/p>\n Calum McFarlane sent his troops out in a wing-back system, with Marc Cucurella (\u00a36.1m) no longer the winger of Gameweek 36.<\/p>\n Levi Colwill (\u00a34.7m) again impressed at the back as the Blues limited City to precious few openings.<\/p>\n Not that Chelsea themselves carved out much. There were a few penalty shouts, but their only shot on target didn\u2019t even result in a save, with Moises Caicedo\u2018s (\u00a35.7m) tame, looping header nodded away from the goalline by the fit-again Rodri (\u00a36.3m).<\/p>\n Enzo Fernandez (\u00a36.4m) has looked a threat under McFarlane and it was he who again probably had Chelsea\u2019s best chance, poking a close-range chance onto the roof of the net.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to say Cole Palmer (\u00a310.3m) was anonymous again, but he did at least contribute to the collective defensive effort.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard at this moment in time to think like that because of the recent form and losing a cup final but I felt we went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world and I thought there was very little between the sides.\u201d \u2013 Calum McFarlane<\/p>\n A new era dawns for Chelsea, however, with the appointment of Xabi Alonso<\/a>. He\u2019ll take over in July, and there\u2019ll no doubt be renewed FPL interest in Blues picks come 2026\/27.<\/p>\n PEDRO INJURY?<\/p>\n It was unusual to see Joao Pedro (\u00a37.4m) come off late on with Chelsea needing an equaliser.<\/p>\n Was a thigh tweak sustained earlier in the game to blame?<\/p>\n Garnacho on for JP. https:\/\/t.co\/ohcIYOMCN4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) May 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Some footage from later in the game (thanks to FPL Focal<\/a>!) did make it seem more like cramp.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll hopefully hear from McFarlane on that issue ahead of Tuesday\u2019s clash with Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-254.png\")
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