Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a stern warning to his players, urging them against complacency following their recent triumph in securing a domestic cup double. After clinching the FA Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, which followed their Carabao Cup final success against Arsenal in March, Guardiola emphasized that these achievements should serve as a foundation for future challenges rather than a reason for self-congratulation.

Guardiola stressed the importance of not taking success for granted, cautioning his squad against believing they are 'special'. He stated, "The most important thing is the trophies are good and you know what it takes to compete and win and experience that but don't take it for granted. You start to believe that you are special, you will just win the FA Cup." He firmly added, "Special we are not. The moment that we think [that], we will not be in these places. Quite often, that is one of the things that through the years, we were OK with and we know how difficult it is just to arrive and after win it."

The Manchester City boss immediately refocused his team's attention, denying them a celebration on Saturday night. Instead, he directed them to prepare for a crucial Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Tuesday. This upcoming match at the Vitality Stadium is pivotal, as its outcome will determine whether the Premier League title race with Arsenal extends to the final day of the season. Guardiola expressed hope that the FA Cup victory would infuse the team with renewed 'energy' despite the quick turnaround between matches. He explained, "The fatigue will be the same, but the energy will be different. Going to Bournemouth, losing [the final] would have been more difficult. I said take a shower and we'll go home and then we'll go to Bournemouth on Monday." This directive underscores Guardiola's relentless pursuit of excellence and his determination to maintain focus on the ultimate prize: the Premier League title.