Rooney's City Dig Backfires as Richards Accuses Him of "Bitter" Commentary After FA Cup Triumph

Manchester City's second trophy of the season arrived courtesy of Antoine Semenyo's delightful flick past Chelsea at Wembley, adding to their Carabao Cup triumph over Arsenal in March. Yet the talking points extended well beyond the pitch on Sunday, with Wayne Rooney's dig at the Gallagher brothers proving rather more contentious than the action itself.

When the BBC cameras caught Noel and Liam Gallagher watching proceedings from their private box, Micah Richards noted their presence with a wry observation. Host Mark Chapman quipped back, before Richards joked about his eyesight. Rooney, however, decided to wade in with a pointed comment.

"What I will say on Liam and Noel, I've never seen them there when City weren't winning anything," the Manchester United icon declared from the punditry desk.

Richards swiftly objected. "What? They were there!" he protested, only for Rooney to double down: "I didn't see them."

The exchange drew laughter from Richards, who then delivered his verdict: "We've got footage of that! You're just being a bitter red right now."

Rooney did manage to offer City credit where it was due, however. Despite describing the encounter as something less than a classic, he acknowledged the decisive moment came down to quality breaking through. "With the quality Man City have, sooner or later one of the superstars will open you up," he explained. "The goal was incredible."

He noted Chelsea created half-chances and had penalty appeals dismissed, but ultimately the gulf in class told. "You just know with City they can create that one chance," Rooney concluded.

Daniel Sturridge, meanwhile, singled out Bernardo Silva's tireless running as crucial to City's success, particularly poignant given the Portuguese midfielder's impending departure from the club. Sturridge highlighted how Haaland's movement and Semenyo's instinctive finish epitomised what it takes to claim silverware at this level.

"Chelsea were very disciplined," Sturridge observed. "It takes those moments of brilliance. Again, Bernardo Silva tirelessly working for his team-mates. He has put so much in. Man City keep going from strength to strength. It is a successful season for them in regard to trophies."