Rodri Returns as Chelsea Vs Man City Lineups Set Wembley Final
Chelsea vs man city moved into final-team-news territory before the 3pm BST kick-off at Wembley, with both clubs naming their FA Cup final starting XIs. Rodri returned to Manchester City’s lineup, while Phil Foden was left on the bench.
Wembley Team News
Chelsea made two changes from their draw at Anfield the previous weekend, bringing Robert Sanchez in for Filip Jorgensen and Reece James in for Andrey Santos. The setup pointed to a 3-4-2-1 shape, with Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, James, Caicedo, Cucurella; Palmer, Enzo; and Joao Pedro selected to start.
Manchester City went with James Trafford in goal and lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Bernardo and Rodri in midfield behind a front four of Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, Doku and Haaland. Guardiola preferred Marmoush to Rayan Cherki for the final, and the bench included Foden, Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Rodri And Chelsea Shape
The selection calls kept the focus on the midfield and the back line. Chelsea’s back three matched the shape they used after changing during the second half of January’s league draw at Manchester City, while City’s return for Rodri gave Guardiola a more familiar base in the middle for a final played at Wembley.
The lineups also drew a clear split in approach. Chelsea kept James in the XI after his change at Anfield, and City left several regular names in reserve, with Foden, Dias and Donnarumma all starting on the bench as Trafford took the goalkeeping spot.
Guardiola’s Final Choices
Guardiola’s call to start Marmoush over Cherki and bring Rodri straight back into the XI left City with pace and structure in the same side. Chelsea, meanwhile, went with Sanchez behind a three-man defense and a midfield that included Caicedo and Cucurella, setting up a match shaped as much by the team sheets as by the final itself.
For supporters heading into Wembley, the practical answer was already on the board before kick-off: Chelsea had changed two players from Anfield, City had reshuffled around Rodri and Trafford, and the final would begin with both sides committing to formations that had defined their recent choices.
