The Blues secured an historic fourth successive Premier League title last weekend and now looking to create more history by securing a double league and FA Cup double – something that has never before been achieved by a men’s team in England.
Sharing the news only Ederson will miss the game with injury, the boss admitted he’s enjoyed what he’s seen on the training pitch this week.
“The fact we can do back to back Doubles - of course it’s important,” said Guardiola.
“The FA Cup itself is the FA Cup. Wembley, our fans going to London. The players know it’s the last game of season, the last effort.
“I’ve been impressed with how good we trained after few days off. The people are so focused.
“Everyone wants to be involved and we will do our best, that’s for sure. I have to decide a few things, the doubts, the line-up and then go.”
City took just 13 seconds to open the scoring against United in last season’s final, and at his Friday press conference, Guardiola was asked how important a fast start is tomorrow?
“And the way we finish,” smiled Pep.
“The game is 95 or 96 minutes. Every minute. Of course, when you start well and you can score first, always it’s important.
“But these types of finals against teams like United because United is always United. Of course, in the Premier League we have been better than them, more consistent than them but one game – and especially United this season against top six in important games - always perform well.
“We spoke. And the players feel it and know that it will be completely different game to the Premier League, that’s for sure.
“In football this never happened before [same teams meeting in succession]. In all the history, two times in a row.
“We respect a lot United. Always it’s been like that since I arrived for their history.
“In the last decade, we have been better, but in terms of history it’s the best team in England.
“For that you have to of course respect them massively. What they feel, I don’t know because I’m not there.”
Asked if he felt the United boss Erik ten Hag was under pressure going into this game, Pep added: “I don’t know. Sometimes it’s an advantage. Sometimes if you feel under pressure you perform better.
“One week ago, champions of the Premier League, it can give you an extra for the confidence or maybe can give you completely the opposite to be too much relaxed.
“So you never know. Process is tomorrow, 3pm, be ready. This is the point.
“In the big clubs like United and City when you don’t win, always you’re in trouble.
“No secrets. I am telling you after we have done what we have done, I’d be in trouble if I don’t win.
“This is not the big issue. [Ten Hag] has done very good things and I have a huge respect for his job in the past, now in United and I completely agree when I listen to him say they were not full squad, all the squad were [not available] this season - they’ve had a lot of injuries.
“You have to be fit, fit, fit otherwise you can’t use the players. They have a lot of problems and when that happens the manager suffers a lot.
“The squad, I think, is really good. but the problem - when they are injured is you cannot use them. This is a big disadvantage.
“They have actions from brilliant players up front, Garnacho, Rashford, Hojlund or of course Bruno Fernandes - when he has the ball, everything happens.
“Bruno’s influence is outstanding. Unbelievable. Today saw a few games, the last games and I said: ‘this guy’s creativity is one of the best I’ve ever seen’.
“They have experience and everything. If I lost a lot of central defenders I’d be in trouble, this is the reality.”
