Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his side have enjoyed a successful campaign regardless of whether they win the Premier League title or Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.
Guardiola's declaration comes as City chase Arsenal in the title race while sitting five points adrift with a game in hand. The champions were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in March, meaning a domestic double of the League Cup and FA Cup remains their only realistic path to silverware.
"It depends on the trophies you lift. Sometimes you lift trophies and the season has been successful. Sometimes you lift and the truth is the season has been really, really bad," Guardiola said. "I said a few weeks ago this season has been good. Really, really good."
City will head to Wembley for their fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance. They lost the last two editions to Crystal Palace and Manchester United, a run Guardiola is desperate to end. He took his chances seriously enough to bench Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku during Wednesday's win against Crystal Palace, signalling he plans to field a full-strength team this weekend rather than rest players ahead of Tuesday's trip to Bournemouth.
"It is the final of the FA Cup. The message is there are two prestigious clubs at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Our fans make an incredible effort to come down to London. It is not cheap," he said. "We try to perform as much as possible to win. It is always the game-plan."
On Wembley itself, which will host his 24th visit with City, Guardiola struck a lighter note. He joked that he remained "so disappointed" the stadium had not named a stand after him. "So many times I have been there, at least a lounge or a box or something like that. Maybe I have to go 24 more times," he said with a smile.
The 53-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad and has not yet agreed new terms, fuelling speculation he could leave the club once this season ends. When asked about reports that City's fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor are set to depart, Guardiola played coy. "I extended the contract with them three more years," he said with a smirk, before immediately adding: "Nope."
On midfielder Rodri's fitness ahead of the final, Guardiola would only say: "We'll see."
City face Bournemouth on Tuesday before Arsenal have the chance to wrap up their first English title since 2004 with a win at Crystal Palace on May 24.
