Some felt Manchester City might struggle to exert greater domestic dominance than when breaking the 100-point barrier in winning the Premier League title last season.
How wrong they were. Pep Guardiola’s side completed an unprecedented, historic Treble here at Wembley with a 6-0 thrashing of Watford, the biggest margin of victory in an FA Cup Final for 116 years and tying the all-time record shared with Bury’s win over Derby County in 1903.
Raheem Sterling capped a stunning individual season with a brace, the fifth and six goals of a demolition job comprising contributions from David Silva and two from Gabriel Jesus either side of a Kevin De Bruyne strike as City added the FA Cup to the League and Carabao Cup trophies already on display at Etihad Stadium.
They are the first men’s team in English football ever to achieve the feat, cementing Pep Guardiola and his side in the pantheon of all-time greats. City’s financial operations may remain under investigation but their football – and the effectiveness of it – is at a level the rest can only dream of.
It says plenty about the sheer strength in depth City possess that the two Silva’s – David and Bernardo – were also so instrumental in completing the remarkable trophy triumvirate.
Bernardo struggled initially to find a place in this City side following his £43million move from Monaco in the summer of 2017 yet he has grown immeasurably in stature this term, exemplified in defying his diminutive frame 26 minutes in to win the ball from Abdoulaye Doucoure and launch the attack which created the opening goal.
Sterling had a shot blocked, David Silva won a header against Kiko Femenia, Sterling followed it up by nodding the ball back into his path. Silva then unleashed a left-foot shot which deflected off Femenia as he tried in vain to block, eluding Heurelho Gomes.
It was his first goal for 28 appearances dating back to December. There was a time when it would be inconceivable that City would be so consistently devastating without David Silva on top form but no longer.
Bernardo then clipped a delightful ball to the back post where Jesus – a surprise inclusion from the outset with Sergio Aguero dropped to the bench – squeezed a header from a tight angle past Gomes and goalwards. Sterling smashed it into the unguarded net to make sure for a goal that was originally awarded to him but later given to Jesus on review.
On target: City’s second goal went to Jesus after official review (Action Images via Reuters)
City’s superiority was never truly threatened from then on but it could all have been so different.
Watford had the first big chance after 11 minutes. Dacoure released Gerard Deulofeu on the counter-attack down Watford’s right. His astute pass found Roberto Pereyra, who wasted no time in taking a touch and firing at goal but such was the speed with which City goalkeeper Ederson closed him down, the angle was sufficiently narrowed that the shot struck his right foot and spun away to safety.
Javi Gracia’s side simply could not afford to waste chances of that calibre. Ten minutes later, Watford protested furiously for a penalty after City captain Vincent Kompany blocked Dacoure’s shot with his arm.
Referee Kevin Friend did not review the incident on VAR. It would almost certainly have been a spot-kick under Uefa rules but with the FA not revising the handball laws until next season, Watford’s protests went unanswered.
City’s two goals put Watford on the back foot, a sense enhanced by De Bruyne’s 55th-minute introduction for Riyad Mahrez and just as the Hornets were trying to generate some momentum, they were breached again.
Jesus won the ball from Pereyra on the halfway line, a shade too easily. Sterling collected it and released Jesus to run at Gomes. Instead of shooting, he passed right to De Bruyne, who checked inside past Gomes, took an extra touch as he tried to get the ball out of his feet and drilled a low shot into the net.
Dejected: Watford players react as City turn it on in the second half (Getty Images)
There was still time for more. Bernardo made inroads down the left and drilled a cross to the back post where Sterling arrived to finish high into the net. His second came from a similar distance, converting the rebound after Gomes tipped his first effort onto the post.
It was cruel on Watford, who will take some solace from their first FA Cup Final in 35 years standing as a moment of history by itself.
They were, ultimately, unable to bridge the gulf in class and resources like so many before them. As if to underline the point, City had £240m worth of talent on the bench and Aguero remained an unused substitute.
Guardiola may rue the one that got away – the Champions League surely being his primary aim next season – but this Treble, and the Community Shield should he count it, confirms City continue to set the benchmark in England. And it just got even higher. The rest may soon need a ladder to reach it
