“Why the 2025 FA Cup final may be the last hurrah for Manchester City’s Super Star”

As Manchester City prepare to face Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium this Saturday, there’s an unusual sense of finality in the air. For a club that has dominated English football for the better part of a decade, treating cup finals as merely another fixture in their relentless pursuit of excellence, this particular occasion carries a different weight – one of impending closure.

“I cannot identify my period at Manchester City without him,” Pep Guardiola said of Bernardo Silva in April, one of many such tributes the Catalan manager has paid to his players in recent months. Similar sentiments have been expressed about Ederson (“I cannot visualize our success without him”) and Kevin De Bruyne (“It cannot be possible what we have done in these many years without him”).

While Guardiola has always been prone to effusive praise, these statements feel less like hyperbole and more like eulogies for an era that is rapidly approaching its conclusion. The confirmation of De Bruyne’s summer departure has only crystallized what many observers have suspected: Saturday’s final may represent the last hurrah for a generation of players who have rewritten the record books of English football.

Before exploring the uncertain future that awaits Manchester City, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the magnitude of what this group has accomplished. In an age of heightened competition and financial parity among the elite clubs, City’s dominance has been extraordinary: four consecutive Premier League titles (2021-2024), a 100-point season, a domestic treble, and the coveted Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League treble.

These achievements have not been the product of a single superstar or tactical innovation, but rather the confluence of extraordinary talents functioning in perfect harmony. Ederson’s revolutionary distribution transformed how goalkeepers are evaluated. De Bruyne’s combination of physical prowess and technical brilliance set new standards for midfield play. Bernardo Silva’s tactical intelligence and versatility provided the glue that held together various iterations of Guardiola’s system.

What makes this team truly special is not just the trophies, but the manner in which they’ve been won. At their best, City have produced football of mesmerizing quality – possession with purpose, positional fluidity, and tactical innovation that has forced every serious competitor to reconsider their approach to the game.

Signs of change have already appeared. Between October and March, City won just 11 of 31 matches across all competitions – a stunning deviation from their usual standards. Now, the departures are becoming official. De Bruyne’s exit has been confirmed, and Ederson may follow. Bernardo Silva is linked with a return to Benfica, while John Stones and Jack Grealish’s futures remain uncertain.

Despite the changes, one significant advantage remains: Pep Guardiola himself. The Catalan manager’s decision to extend his contract for two more years provides stability during this transitional phase. His presence alone makes City an attractive destination for elite players, and his tactical adaptability ensures the team will evolve without losing its essence.

As City approach the final against Crystal Palace, they are not just fighting for a trophy but also to honor the legacy of a golden generation. Regardless of the result, Saturday’s final may mark the conclusion of one of the most successful and admired eras in modern football.