Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 to lift the FA Cup on Saturday, but attention shifted after the final to speculation about Pep Guardiola’s future, according to ESPN.
Guardiola has publicly denied reports he will leave, told reporters he has one year remaining on his contract and said the Wembley appearance would not be his last, according to ESPN. The manager’s body language and postgame comments nonetheless continued to fuel debate around his long-term plans.
The final itself was a tight affair. Chelsea set up with a back three and relied on transitions, while City found it difficult to create clear chances until the second half. Antoine Semenyo’s flicked finish proved decisive in a match in which Chelsea managed a single shot on target, and three penalty appeals involving Abdukodir Khusanov drew attention, according to ESPN.
Chelsea also announced Xabi Alonso will take over as manager, a move described as a significant boost for a club seeking fresh impetus, according to ESPN. Chelsea’s interim coach, Callum McFarlane — the club’s third coach this season — elected a cautious tactical approach for the final that limited his side’s attacking output, according to ESPN.
Across Europe, Juventus were described as limping toward the end of the season and face the risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League, a setback with financial implications, according to ESPN. In LaLiga, Real Madrid recorded a win that featured Vinicius Jr., but the club faces major decisions this summer, including the appointment of a permanent manager amid questions over whether Jose Mourinho could be considered, according to ESPN. Additional talking points across the weekend included developments involving Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and the Scottish Premiership title race, according to ESPN.
