Marc Guéhi’s whirlwind 12 months in the FA Cup have been nothing short of extraordinary. The Manchester City defender captained Crystal Palace to a historic Wembley triumph last season, experienced the competition’s greatest shock when the holders were eliminated by sixth-tier Macclesfield in the third round, and now aims to claim the trophy again as City face Chelsea on Saturday.
In a competition rich with stories, Guéhi’s narrative stands out. Palace’s victory was their first major trophy, and City—whom he joined just nine days after the Macclesfield defeat—were their victims in the final, beaten 1-0 by Eberechi Eze’s early strike.
“I feel like my football life is crazy,” Guéhi says. “There’s no consistency to it. It’s very unpredictable. And it’s fun, interesting. I’m glad to be given the opportunity to play in such a prestigious final again. And for this club, I know how much it means to them to win trophies.”
From Macclesfield Shock to City Move
On 10 January, Palace were dumped out 2-1 by Macclesfield. Despite the bitter disappointment, Guéhi made a point of approaching the travelling supporters. “I felt like I owed the fans for their voices to be heard because they’re such a big part of football. In that moment, it was low for them, but that’s just another part of life,” he reflects.
Guéhi moved to City for a bargain £20 million, with Pep Guardiola strengthening his squad by acquiring one of England’s first-choice centre-backs. His new teammates were quick to tease him about Palace’s Cup win. “I’m not going to share what they were, but yeah, there were a couple,” he says with a smile.
A Costly Error and Team Support
Fast forward to 4 May, and Guéhi’s mood was far darker at Hill Dickinson Stadium. With City leading Everton 1-0 after 68 minutes, his intended backpass for Gianluigi Donnarumma went straight to Thierno Barry, who equalised. This sparked a 15-minute collapse that saw Everton move 3-1 ahead. City eventually salvaged a 3-3 draw, but the result handed Arsenal a significant advantage in the title race.
Regarding the error, Guéhi is grateful for the support from Guardiola and his teammates. “It’s inevitable that someone’s going to make a mistake. So, I think having that togetherness manifesting is really important in any situation—it’s a really good trait of the group. You get to see people’s real characters and relationships when times are most difficult,” he says.
Rise from Chelsea Rejection
Guéhi’s character, alongside his stellar talent, has driven his rise after being released by Chelsea. He progressed through the west London club’s ranks, made two League Cup starts in autumn 2019 against Grimsby and Manchester United, and then went on loan to Swansea. An £18 million transfer to Palace followed in July 2021.
Asked whether the Cup final is a chance to show Chelsea they were wrong about him, Guéhi demurs: “That’s not my mentality. I completely understand people that have that thought process, but I’ve got nothing but gratitude towards Chelsea. Going there from such a young age, I am super grateful to the coaches and the players I played with. And to have been given the opportunity to play for the club a couple of times.”
Learning from Guardiola’s Culture
Guéhi was ineligible for City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal because he had played for Palace in the competition—a rule that no longer applies in the FA Cup. Witnessing that triumph gave him a deeper understanding of the culture Guardiola has created.
“I wouldn’t say it made me hungrier—the hunger is always there. It just makes me appreciate the art of winning a bit more, understanding what it really takes to maintain that level and keep winning and finding new ways to win. It was great to see what the guys were able to achieve against such a formidable opponent in Arsenal. When you’re not in those moments often, it’s hard to understand. So, taking a back seat was probably the best thing for me,” he explains.
Future Leadership and City’s Bright Prospects
Guardiola may depart in the summer, and captain Bernardo Silva along with John Stones are leaving. Guéhi, in his modest way, is reluctant to claim a leadership role. “You’d have to ask the other guys. It’s always important to have that understanding of how other people see you as well, which then helps you step into different roles,” he says.
He is far more confident about City’s future, citing the wave of players who have joined or emerged since January 2025, including Donnarumma, Omar Marmoush, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and academy graduate Nico O’Reilly.
“There’s so much we can all improve on. We’re all trying to learn from the older guys, from the guys that have been there and done it again and again. Whether we go on and do it, it’s up to us. We’ve got to make that decision every day we come into training,” Guéhi concludes.
