Pep Guardiola
Manchester City’s record of of reaching three Champions League semi-finals in a row, on top of their dominance in the Premier League, will aid their hopes of a treble this season, Pep Guardiola believes. While Guardiola won’t discuss the prospects of a treble, he has guided City to the FA Cup final, Champions League semi-final and with the Premier League title within their own hands. Discussing the prospects of a potential treble, and whether that would put him on par with the achievements of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson, Guardiola wouldn’t be drawn into any comparisons. However, he did accept that City are close to achieving ‘something exceptional’, and are in a stronger position than ever to get over the line in the final ten (or 11) games of the season.
Pep Guardiola said: “I know if we don’t win the treble or the title will be a failure. It doesn’t matter, we accept. Important is being there, prepare for the final of the FA Cup, Premier League is in our hands. Doesn’t matter what happens at the Emirates Stadium [Arsenal’s results], depends on us. Look at ourselves, prepare as we have been as we have done last three, four months. Do everything and we’ll be closer to doing something exceptional. We cannot deny it. Winning another Premier League, how exceptional would that be?”
Guardiola has preached the importance of thinking about the next game and nothing more throughout his career, although he did counter that on Friday by saying ‘you cannot win anything if you don’t think about wanting to do it. Of course we think about it’ – in relation to the Champions League.
Another of Guardiola’s often-repeated mantras is that regularly qualifying for the Champions League and being in contention for trophies at this stage of the season is more of an indicator of a top side than just winning occasional trophies. As City have four Premier League titles in the last five years, and are into their third successive Champions League semi-final, Guardiola says City are in a stronger position than ever to finally win the European Cup.
Pep Guardiola said: “Experience for me doesn’t mean what you’ve done in past will happen in the future, but being there many times. As much time you’re in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, you will be close, as much as you’re in those games. I remember at Barcelona in the periods when we play the finals in the last years. I remember in the tunnel of the final of the Champions League, or important games, faces were completely relaxed. It’s about the personality, we’ve been here three, four times? Madrid won’t be nervous to play a semi-final, how many times been there? They’ve been there. That means what we won will help us to win again? No, we have to prove it. But three years in a row helps. Doesn’t mean we’ll do it next season, but for this season will help. Not important is to arrive one year winning then years after not qualify for the Champions League, group stages out, not qualifying, the next three to four years down. Important is every year being there to qualify, ten years. Every year Man City qualify for the Champions League. This counts a lot. One day it will happen. This season, or next, next? If it continues it will happen sooner or later. Hopefully this season we can reach the final like two years ago.”
