Manchester City head to Bournemouth on Tuesday with high confidence after winning the FA Cup final, but manager Pep Guardiola knows his side will have to break the hosts’ 16-match unbeaten league run to keep their title hopes alive.
City travel to the south coast buoyed by Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Chelsea at Wembley. Antoine Semenyo, who joined City from Bournemouth in January, scored the only goal of the match in the second half.
That win kept City on course for a domestic treble, following their League Cup success against Arsenal in March. Guardiola’s side are two points behind leaders Arsenal with two games to go, setting up an exciting title race.
«It’s a different competition but it is always better to travel to Bournemouth with the feeling of winning the FA Cup than the opposite,» Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
«They are 16 or 17 games unbeaten – their run is unbelievable. The only chance we have (of winning the league) is to win the game, so we have to break that run; otherwise it’s over.»
“This season again what they have done with the loss of three players from the backline, four who had success last season, and they are still doing it.”
Bournemouth, who are pushing for European qualification, will be well rested after last playing at Fulham on May 9.
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“They have had 10 days to prepare and are fighting for places in the Champions League, so they have an argument to be the best version of themselves,” Guardiola said.
«We will be as prepared as possible, knowing what we have to do. It’s not complicated: we have to win and pin our hopes on the last game against Aston Villa.»
City’s title rival Arsenal will host already relegated Burnley later on Monday.
“Here in England, teams always do their best,” Guardiola added.
“Leeds United, who are already safe, went to Tottenham Hotspur and played incredibly to earn a draw. Brighton & Hove Albion meanwhile were fighting for Europe, but Leeds won yesterday. I have no doubt Burnley will try.”
As an added boost, Guardiola said he had a fully fit squad available for the trip to sixth-placed Bournemouth.
Published on May 18, 2026
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