'Hot soup!' - Pep Guardiola explains how Man City prevent injuries despite hectic fixture schedule - in contrast to United fitness nightmares

Ederson is City's only absentee for Saturday's FA Cup final against local rivals United, whose campaign has been derailed by seemingly never-ending injury problems.

"Sometimes you do the same and have a lot of injuries. In the past we controlled them really well. Lorenzo [Buenaventura, fitness coach] is a master to tell me today is soup, hot soup. To say don't do it, or increase little bit," Guardiola told a press conference. "We are used to playing 60 matches, every three days. We learn sometimes it's best to have no training, just a little bit, keep energy for the game. Second, incredible department of doctors, they stay 60-70 hours [per week]."

City have had their injury issues, as Kevin De Bruyne missed the first five months of the season after tearing his hamstring and Erling Haaland was side-lined with a stress line fracture in his foot. John Stones has struggled to stay fit throughout the season. But their problems pale in comparison to United.

"The players themselves, they sleep properly, eat properly, train properly, go out a lot until three or four, it's massively important," added Guardiola. "I have the feeling they are incredibly focused to be fit. You can have a lot of tactics, but if you don't have the players what can you do? I'm naked in that moment."

City ranked 14th in a table compiled by the website Premier Injuries, while United were top with 45 separate setbacks throughout the 2023-24 season, depriving Erik ten Hag of several key players as his team slumped to eighth in the table.

Guardiola is preparing for his seventh final at Wembley with City but admitted he still gets a nervous feeling in his stomach before playing at the famous stadium.

"I cannot deny... it's really high, really good. I don't want to have much concern. I want [the players] to enjoy it. Tomorrow they will have the butterflies, all the questions that will come before the game," he said.