Pep Guardiola admits Man City 'are better than Man Utd' ahead of FA Cup final but insists critics of their dominance of English football are wrong

Champions City finished the Premier League season with 31 points more than their local rivals while scoring 39 more goals. They are also unbeaten in any competition since December. Guardiola said they are well used to being the better fancied side.

"We are used to it. We start the season and in September, October they say we'll win the Champions League and be 25 points in front in the Premier League. Every year. We say okay," Guardiola told a press conference. "They say it's boring. When you win and are one or two points in front it's not boring - 20-30 points in front is boring. People think: What will happen if you are 31 points in front of United? It's a different competition, one game. You can lose a game. We know we can lose a game. In long periods we are better than United, that's obvious, facts. The players know it, feel it. We are ready to play the last game of the season. The FA Cup deserves all our focus."

Guardiola is targetting an 18th trophy with City and will be playing in his ninth major final with the club, but he insisted he still appreciates these occasions.

"I always have the feeling, when people think differently. Playing the FA Cup final is an exception," he said. "I had the feeling at Spurs away, had to win against Newcastle at home, Fulham, Luton. To arrive here is difficult. I don't take it for granted. I never have the feeling it doesn't matter."

Saturday will be the first time since 1885 that the same teams will meet in the FA Cup final in consecutive years. Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest goal in final history when he opened the scoring after 12 seconds and also scored the winner in a 2-1 victory against United at Wembley last year.

City have the chance to become the first team in English football history to win consecutive doubles of the league and FA Cup. The majority of their players will then take a short break before joining up with their countries for the European Championship or Copa America. Guardiola will take a holiday before preparing for the club's pre-season tour of the USA in July.