Marc Guehi explains how 'nicest man' in football is inspiring defender before Manchester City face Chelsea in Emirates FA Cup final

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Marc Guehi is gearing up for his second Emirates FA Cup final in as many seasons. A winner with Crystal Palace in 2025, the defender will hope for a repeat in a Manchester City shirt on Saturday.

'The nicest man ever' - Guehi credits 'unreal' Toure influence at Man City

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The England international swapped Selhurst Park for the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window and has quickly become a key player for Pep Guardiola's side.

In the absence of both Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, Guehi has been a leader at the back for Manchester City as they hunt down further domestic silverware having lifted the EFL Cup at Arsenal's expense in early March.

Guehi missed out for City that day having been cup-tied but he is expected to start Saturday's Emirates FA Cup final, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, when they take on Chelsea at Wembley.

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And Guehi is drawing inspiration from Manchester City assistant manager Kolo Toure as the 25-year-old looks to write his name into the club's history books.

Toure initially took on the role for the FIFA Club World Cup last summer before remaining in the position.

Speaking exclusively with TNT Sports expert Joe Hart before the weekend's meeting with Chelsea, Guehi praised "fantastic" Toure, stating: "Kolo is unreal. Kolo is the nicest man ever.

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"I don’t think anyone has a bad word to say about him. Watching him as well, what he’s achieved in the game, being an 'Invincible'. The trophies that he’s won and the football clubs that he’s played for. Feeding off someone like that is fantastic."

Guehi is not taking the chance to play at Wembley for granted and told Hart that he's "grateful" to be able to feature in another Emirates FA Cup final.

"I look at that and think: ‘How lucky am I?’ People don’t realise you don’t get these opportunities often.

"To have gone and won it the first time with an incredible group…"

Hart was quick to praise the Palace performance that day, as Guehi continued: "Team performance, every single person involved.

"The obvious 12th man, the fans were unreal. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen. To experience a game like that against a team like Manchester City with the players that they had...

"Unforgettable moments and I’m just so happy for the football club that they could achieve that. Like I said, to be in that position again, I’m grateful.

"It's a different position in a way, you’re thinking about it differently but at heart, still wanting to go and win it, still wanting to achieve something surmountable again."

Guehi on Drogba: 'What a player'

One player who knows a thing or two about football's oldest club competition is former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

The powerhouse forward scored 12 Emirates FA Cup goals in his career, eight of which came in the semi-finals of the competition, while the other four came in four different cup finals.

And having been born in Ivory Coast, Guehi says that Drogba is someone he "looked up to."

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba with the 2012 FA Cup

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Guehi added: "I’ve always loved football to be honest. Being from the Ivory Coast, Didier Drogba was a massive part of that.

"What a player, what an absolute beast on the pitch, but a gentleman off it, so he was someone that I definitely looked up to a lot when I was younger.

"To be in the position that he was in is really nice."

Trafford and Donnarumma 'really great players'

Hart also spoke about the relationships between the last line of defence and the backline itself.

Manchester City re-signed James Trafford and brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma over the summer, with the latter established as first-choice under Guardiola in the league following his arrival from UEFA Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain.

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Trafford, though, has been their go-to in cup competitions, with the bulk of the 23-year-old's starts this season coming in the EFL Cup and Emirates FA Cup.

The former Burnley player is expected to start against Chelsea on Saturday and Guehi spoke about getting used to changes between the sticks, describing both shot-stoppers as "really great players."

"I think they’re both very different," Guehi said.

"Very different in their playing styles, and so, as a player, as a defender, you have to have those relationships and get used to them and try and forge them but it’s been great playing with both of them to be honest.

"Really great players."

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