City all set to end season on a high

Chelsea 1 Man City 2

A hard-fought and, as Rafael Benitez was quick to point out, controversial victory over holders Chelsea ensured City will return to Wembley on May 11 as overwhelming favourites to beat Wigan Athletic and lift the trophy they won two years ago, breaking a 35-year wait for silverware.

Should the final go the way most will expect it to, the painful memories of abject failure in the Champions League and Manchester United’s comfortable reclamation of the Premier League title will be put into fresh perspective. Whether it will be enough to end speculation about Mancini’s future at the club is a different matter, but the manager can draw satisfaction that his side are finishing the season showing signs of the form that made them champions 12 months ago.