Pep Guardiola sends clear message to Man City players after FA Cup final win

Pep Guardiola cautioned his Manchester City players against thinking they are "not special" for capturing the FA Cup as they pursue additional silverware.

The Blues trail leaders Arsenal by five points with a game in hand in the Premier League, and while that represents a significant deficit to overcome in limited time, the City manager is insistent they keep their eyes fixed on the prize.

City captain Bernardo Silva remarked following their FA Cup final win over Chelsea that the Blues had cultivated an appetite for collecting silverware that he felt would serve them well in the coming seasons.

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Guardiola also acknowledged the talent within his team, believing that the outlook was promising, but made clear the benchmarks those players must uphold daily if they are to fulfill their potential.

"It's good. The feeling is good but always don't forget that you feel you are there and then in a few hours you are in the bottom. The most important thing is that trophies are good - how you have to compete, win, experience for Marc [Guehi] and many other players - but don't take it for granted," as per the Manchester Evening News.

He continued, "If you start to believe that you are special, you have just won the FA Cup. We are not special. The moment you think that, you will not be in these places quite often. I think everybody through the years has known exactly how difficult it is just to arrive and then after to win."

Victory at Wembley secured a third FA Cup in a decade for Guardiola, his 20th piece of silverware in English soccer in total, yet the manager prefers to gauge his achievements by a different measure.

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Saturday marked the 24th occasion he has led a side out at the national stadium during his decade at the helm of City, and he considers that his greatest accolade.

"We played this game with our fans and it's nice. Many things can happen but we have always been there. I think the biggest title is to come here 24 times. We can win the Premier League and Champions League, but to play 24 times here is because we were stubborn," he said.

"FA Cups, Carabao Cups, you go to League One and Two you can slip up and that is the biggest compliment we can get as a club. We have done it and we have to continue to try. That is the biggest success, more than all the Premier Leagues. I cannot speak higher about the organization of the club."