Man City midfielder Mateo Kovacic admits club can still have a better season than most by winning FA Cup and believes former Premier League champions are finally 'catching up again'

City midfielder Kovacic believes their season would be better than most other clubs if they can win the FA Cup on Saturday, also claiming it would give Pep Guardiola's squad a timely boost before next month's Club World Cup.

City's title defence fell apart midway through the season, going through a horrible run of just one win in nine Premier League games, and they were also knocked out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup by Real Madrid and Tottenham respectively. They still have the chance to lift silverware when they take on Crystal Palace at Wembley and Kovacic highlighted that other clubs have performed better but will end the campaign without any trophies.

Speaking ahead of the final, Kovacic said: "This season, although it's not been good, we can end it in a positive way which could give us a big push for the Club World Cup.

"Let's see what the end of the season gives us. We always expect the season to be better, but I think many teams are having good seasons and won't end up with a trophy.

"In the end we're in a final, which is never easy, and we're still in the top four, which is also not easy. At this club, you take it for granted because we have been on top for so many years consistently.

"We caught up with our form a little bit late. We had a great start to the season then we dipped a lot. Now we're catching up again.

"Unfortunately it didn't last the whole season, like it has before, but we're still there in a fight for the top four and in an FA Cup final which is never easy. In the end, this season can turn out to be good. We are improving a lot – the final will be tough, as is every final. There's a lot of pressure on both teams, but we're ready."

After winning a historic treble in the 2022-23 season, City could only manage the Premier League and Community Shield last term and injuries and a major drop off in form meant their chances of defending the domestic title were over quickly as Liverpool established a dominant lead at the top of the table.

Kovacic has been on the losing side in all four of his FA Cup final appearances so far - three with Chelsea as well as City's defeat to Manchester United last year - and will be desperate to lift the trophy at the fifth time of asking.