2-YEAR PEP TALK BUT COLE STILL WANTED TO LEAVE US 1

City boss fears former.starlet

PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed how he spent two seasons pleading with Cole Palmer not to leave Manchester City.

The Spanish boss knows he must now find a way to stop the England sensation if he wants to keep City's Double dream alive.

Palmer stunned the Premier League champions last summer when he walked out on them to join Chelsea in a £40million deal.

The midfielder has gone on to make a stunning impact at Stamford Bridge, scoring 22 goals in all competitions to become Mauricio Pochettino's most influential star.

And he will look to make a mockery of City's decision to sell him when he faces his former club in today's FA Cup semi-final showdown at Wembley.