7 pundits predict Chelsea vs Man City FA Cup final as five-goal hammering expected
Manchester City and Chelsea will face off at Wembley with Pep Guardiola’s side going in search of a domestic cup double.
Manchester City are chasing FA Cup glory after losing in last year’s final(Image: Getty Images)
The 2026 FA Cup final will see Manchester City and Chelsea battle it out for glory at Wembley. Both teams scraped through to the final but pundits’ predictions point to one clear favourite.
City needed a late comeback to win 2-1 against Championship side Southampton, with a Nico Gonzalez stunner proving the difference. Just one goal was enough for Chelsea, with Enzo Fernandez’s effort seeing them pip Leeds United.
If Pep Guardiola’s side win on Saturday it will help them complete a domestic cup double. Arsenal were their opponents when they won the Carabao Cup in March, with Nico O’Reilly scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.
Can City double up or will Calum McFarlane’s Chelsea do what Crystal Palace managed last season and stun the seven-time winners? We’ve taken a look at what some pundits have predicted.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola sends message to Man City fans: “Don’t wait until I’m leaving”READ MORE: Marc Guehi targets winning the FA Cup again – four months after crashing out
Alan Shearer – City win
“It is really interesting that City have lost the last two finals as favourites,” Shearer wrote for Metro. “I did the co-comms last year for that game when Palace beat them. Chelsea showed slight improvement last week against Liverpool despite going 1-0 down.
“I just think because of the mood that City are in, the belief and the confidence, they’ll edge it. I know that City still give you chances, even watching the game against Crystal Palace, they missed two or three really good chances. I think there’ll be a lot of goals in this, but I think Man City will edge it just.”
Chris Sutton – 5-0 City
Not only does Sutton expect his former club Chelsea to lose, he’s backing City to beat them 5-0. “Pep rested players in midweek when City beat Crystal Palace and left Erling Haaland out, much to the annoyance of Fantasy Premier League managers,” the one-cap England striker noted in his BBC predictions.
“Haaland will be back in the team at Wembley, though, and he will benefit from the rest, along with the likes of Rayan Cherki. Chelsea have been patchy all season and if they have one of their bad days, then this could get a bit messy for them.”
Craig Burley – 3-2 City
“If City play to their level it could be a tough day for Chelsea,” former Blues midfielder Burley said on ESPN UK’s build-up, predicting a 3-2 win for Guardiola’s side. “They played a bit better last week against Liverpool but is that Liverpool? It was a little bit better than it was but it’s been dreadful – what was it, six straight defeats?
“They have good players but they have a lot of good players who haven’t played particularly well, certainly of late. But I think they’ve also got a lot of top players, big names, that are disillusioned with what’s gone on behind the scenes and that’s translated onto the field.
“They have got a performance in them. Whether it’s going to be… here or not I just don’t know.
Nedum Onuoha – 4-2 City
Watch the FA Cup on TNT Sports
£30.99
TNT Sports
Get TNT Sports here
TNT Sports broadcasts select FA Cup fixtures and fans can tune in on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel. A monthly subscription also includes select Champions League, Europa League and Premier League games.
“From a City perspective, this reminds me of the game they played against Spurs in the Carabao Cup final a few years ago,” ex-City defender Onuoha said on the same broadcast as Burley. “Ryan Mason was on the touchline for Spurs during that game, I think (Jose) Mourinho might have just been sacked not too long before.
“City arrive in a better moment, they have the confidence to win games of football – to be honest, Chelsea haven’t. They won the semi-final against Leeds… and they do have the belief but you still have to back City.”
Onuoha was out on loan when City lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and expects his former employers to get the job done. He predicted a 4-2 win.
Nicky Butt – City win
Butt, who won the cup as a player with Manchester United, expects their neighbours City to “batter” Chelsea. “I would be gobsmacked if Man City don’t win this game by two or three, I just don’t see any team in Chelsea at all,” said Butt, speaking to Paddy Power.
He added: “Chelsea’s best players are not playing anywhere near the level that they can do. Cole Palmer is an unbelievable player, I love him, but he’s been absolutely disastrous over the last few months.
“You’re looking at them going, they’re all very talented players and they can play at any club in the world. Technical, gifted players – but there’s no team continuity there at all. City will batter Chelsea in my eyes.”
Clinton Morrison – 2-1 City
Morrison, speaking to FreeBets, also anticipated a City win. However, he suggested it will be a closer contest than others have predicted.
“If Chelsea play like they’ve been playing the last few weeks they’ll get battered, to be fair. But I think they did turn up in the semi final and it’ll be a good game of football,” he said.
“I think Man City will just shade it. If Rodri’s back in midfield I think that’s where the game could be won and lost. And (Jeremy) Doku, if Reece James isn’t fit, nobody can live with him at the moment.”
William Gallas – City win
French defender Gallas won the Premier League and League Cup with Chelsea but FA Cup glory deserted him and he thinks the Blues will find it tough this weekend. “If Manchester City play against Chelsea the same way they did against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, it will be very hard for Chelsea in the FA Cup final,” Gallas told BetVictor
“Even though Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool, they still don’t have the confidence and are suffering. Obviously, anything can happen in one game, but I think it will be hard for Chelsea.
“If Chelsea do win the game, I think it will be because the Manchester City team are tired from the amount of fixtures recently. They could be tired from the Crystal Palace game and that could give Chelsea the chance to win.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
