Guardiola’s point is simple enough. Chelsea have had a cleaner run into the showpiece, while City have still been juggling the demands of the Premier League title race. That is hardly a minor detail at this stage of a season.
For a manager who usually talks in terms of control, rhythm and detail, the emphasis on travel and recovery underlines how fine the margins can be in a one-off final. City are used to fighting on multiple fronts, but even elite squads can look a fraction slower when the calendar tightens.
For Chelsea, the occasion appears to carry a different kind of pressure. This final looks like their last chance at silverware this season, and reports suggest it could also shape their route back into European competition.
That changes the emotional tone of the game.
On paper, City may still look like the more complete side. In practice, cup finals rarely follow the script. Guardiola’s complaint will not win sympathy everywhere, but it does frame the contest: one club arriving with momentum but workload, the other with preparation time and everything to gain.
By Saturday evening, the scheduling debate may either look like a valid warning or pre-match noise. Either way, the next storyline is obvious - whether Chelsea can seize their moment, or whether City can turn tired legs into another trip to the trophy lift at Wembley.