Manchester City had already claimed the League Cup and continued their strong run of form by edging past Newcastle to secure second place in the Premier League standings.
Their momentum carried them to the FA Cup final, where they were set to face Chelsea—the Blues—at Wembley in what would be their third meeting of the season.
Following their latest victory, the national press, particularly the Manchester local, poured praise on City with such intensity that O'Neill and his coaching staff felt almost dizzy from the acclaim.
With just three days to recover before the Wembley showdown, O'Neill did what he could to manage his squad's energy. Key players were given two days off, returning only for a light training session on the eve of the final.
But amid the preparation, an unexpected distraction surfaced—Leeds City had made a move for one of Manchester City's key defenders: Rio Ferdinand..
