Manchester City Fan View: Citizens seek first trophy of Guardiola era

Manchester City face Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday as the two sides lock horns in the battle for the first piece of silverware in the English season.

Both clubs will see winning a trophy as crucial for different reasons. It goes without saying that every side wants to win a cup final; such occasions are the pinnacle of any sport. Winning offers a rare and unique feeling, and defeat always leaves you empty, regretfully musing about what might have been.

For Pep Guardiola and his City side, Sunday represents an opportunity to show the first tangible success from what has been a blindingly good campaign. We know that the Premier League title has been sewn up since early December, but we’re still a few weeks away from that being official. Winning the League Cup would offer the guarantee of a trophy double and give the Blues something to show for their work.

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There can be no doubt that City enter this match as favourites to have their name engraved on the trophy. They have lost just three matches this season; one was a dead-rubber tie against Shakhtar Donetsk when Pep’s men were already assured of top spot in their Champions League group. Another was a thrilling defeat to an excellent Liverpool team. The final one came against League One Wigan Athletic on Monday night.

There’s an anomaly in that group. The defeat to Wigan is the only real stain on this incredible season. It shouldn’t have happened and it’s hard to explain. It also presents an interesting dynamic for City on Sunday. Will an embarrassing defeat have damaged their confidence? Will their swagger have been left behind at the DW Stadium? Maybe. But those things are unlikely.

City are more likely to produce a positive reaction. Losing a game so unexpectedly should give them a small reminder that mistakes and defeats can come at any time and there is no room for complacency. It is not a reminder that the team should need but all the same, it should ensure that confidence does not give way to arrogance on Sunday.

Cup final weekends always kick the media into overdrive. The build up will focus on potential line-ups, tactical analysis and the importance to each manager of putting a trophy in the cabinet. The final records of each boss will be dissected – both are impressive – and score predictions will be made.

For all that, showpiece occasions are about something more. They are about the supporters. It’s their day. It’s about the men and women sharing dreams with their friends and families. It’s about the children walking up Wembley Way, replica shirts emblazoned with their favourite player’s name as they dream of watching them score the winning goal. It’s about belting out your club’s anthem while the other team’s starting 11 is read out. It’s about being perplexed by people wearing half-and-half scarves. It’s about the burst of energy and celebration on the final whistle when your team claims that little bit of history for itself. It’s about the people who couldn’t get a ticket who fill the pubs of their respective cities. Finals are for the fans.

For those of us in the blue corner, Sunday presents another chance to celebrate where the club is now, whilst remembering what it used to be. From being the supporters that sang about Wembley being the place in London that we never get to see, to making it home-from-home. From the club that couldn’t, to the club that does.

Manchester City are favourites to win the trophy but nobody is taking anything for granted. Until the final whistle blows, the next piece of silverware is a dream. Hopefully, it will be fulfilled when Vincent Kompany lifts the famous League Cup trophy above his head.