Pep urges City to use FA Cup pain to fuel top 5 bid

Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City flops to use the pain from their shock FA Cup final defeat as fuel to salvage their dismal season by qualifying for the Champions League.

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Guardiola’s side will finish without major silverware for the first time in eight years after crashing to a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.

Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike and Dean Henderson’s penalty save from Omar Marmoush late in the first half condemned troubled City to the latest setback in their turbulent season.

City’s lack of cutting edge was exposed by Palace’s tactically astute game-plan, leaving Guardiola to survey the wreckage of a wretched campaign that has included his team surrendering the Premier League title to Liverpool and crashing out of the Champions League.

The Spaniard believes City can still partially save face by securing a top five finish in the Premier League, which guarantees a place in the Champions League next term.