Manchester City’s relentless pursuit of silverware shows no sign of abating | John Brewin

A fourth consecutive FA Cup final has been reached but Guardiola’s selection against Southampton suggests priorities lie elsewhere

It’s happening again. Another Manchester City treble will be a short price on the prediction markets, even if City were defeated in the last two FA Cup finals. The club’s dominance of English football asks existential questions of those attempting to compete. Yet again written off this season by those foolish enough to underestimate them, City loom menacingly over the rest, threatening a level of success others can only reach for.

The key question remains without its answer. Is this Pep Guardiola’s last dance? The rumours, unsubstantiated as they are, have bubbled under all season, his weekly responses to enquiries opaque and diversionary. Anyone looking for clues at Wembley in his team selection would deduce the Premier League title, rather than repeating the domestic treble of 2018-19, was the priority for any big send-off. Such speculation is folly when the likelihood is that Guardiola himself may even not know his own mind.