Manchester City may have secured their third consecutive FA Cup final appearance with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, but manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear he is far from satisfied with the team’s overall performance this season. Speaking candidly after the match, Guardiola stressed that reaching the FA Cup final does not mask the shortcomings that have defined City's 2024–25 campaign.

“This season has not been good. We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool,” Guardiola said, acknowledging the significant gap at the top of the Premier League standings. City’s domestic title hopes were officially ended when Liverpool clinched the championship, and their struggles in the Champions League have added further disappointment. Guardiola pointed out that City had only won "one or two" games in Europe’s premier club competition, a far cry from their usual dominant displays.

The City boss did not shy away from admitting that his team, often praised in recent years for their relentless machine-like efficiency, has fallen short of those standards. “We were always a machine and we have not been good," Guardiola said. "That does not mean we are a disaster, but it's not enough to call this a good season."

Before delving into City's issues, Guardiola opened his post-match press conference by offering a gracious congratulations to Liverpool on their Premier League triumph. “On behalf of myself and all the club, we want to congratulate Liverpool Football Club for their Premier League victory. Well deserved, no doubts about that. A fantastic team,” he said.

Looking ahead, Guardiola emphasized the importance of City’s remaining Premier League fixtures, referring to them as “four finals” in the race to secure Champions League qualification for next season. He also underlined that winning the FA Cup, while important, would not be enough to label the campaign a success. Instead, he hinted at the need for crucial decisions and improvements heading into the next season.

Manchester City will face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on May 17, a match that represents their last chance to salvage some silverware from an otherwise challenging and underwhelming year.