Manchester City must move on from the FA Cup final defeat as a massive week looms | OneFootball

The pain of losing Saturday’s FA Cup final 1-nil to Crystal Palace will still be raw for the Manchester City players and staff. Pep Guardiola’s side did all they could at Wembley to win, but it wasn’t their day. But they do not have time to feel sorry for themselves. They have to pick themselves up for what looms as a pivotal week for Manchester City. They face Bournemouth and Fulham this week in their final two Premier League fixtures. Both games will shape City’s season. So the pain of Saturday’s defeat must be set aside so City can secure Champions League qualification for next season.

Pep Guardiola knows his team have to bounce back quickly.

Speaking after his team’s defeat at Wembley, Pep Guardiola knows that his side must bounce back. The pain of the defeat to Crystal Palace is still raw amongst the Manchester City squad. But they have to pick themselves up for their upcoming fixture against Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Speaking after his team’s FA Cup final loss, Pep Guardiola said: “We have to come back. We have to live it. It’s better to play against Bournemouth having won the FA Cup because winning helps winning, but now we have to prove how strong we are with our people.”

Manchester City know what they have to do this week.

The equation is simple for Manchester City this week. Two wins over Bournemouth and Fulham will secure them Champions League qualification for next season. That’s the goal ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side this week. It’s that simple. Although both games will be tough fixtures for a wounded City side. But what is lost cannot be regained. The FA Cup final has come and gone, and unfortunately, Manchester City were beaten at Wembley.

But the City players cannot afford to dwell on the defeat or let it define their season. If they miss out on Champions League qualification that would be a disaster for the club. Now Pep Guardiola and his team have the opportunity to salvage something from this season. That starts against Bournemouth. A win over the Cherries at the Etihad would see City rise to third ahead of their final Premier League fixture against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. It’s a chance they must take. It’s as simple as that. The time for introspection and reviewing this season will come, but it can’t occur this week based on the pressing matters that must be dealt with on the pitch.