Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed skepticism about his team’s chances of replicating their historic treble from last season. City, who won the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in the 2020-2021 campaign, are currently the favorites to win all three competitions again this year. However, Guardiola believes that achieving such a remarkable feat is highly unlikely.
During a news conference on Friday, Guardiola shared his reservations about City’s prospects of winning a back-to-back treble. He emphasized the difficulty of the task, stating, “This is a fairy tale, it’s more complicated than that.” The manager acknowledged the absence of any English team ever accomplishing the feat and emphasized that if it were easy, it would have been done by Manchester United or another team in the past.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of focusing on the present and not getting carried away by the team’s recent successes. Despite being on a nine-game winning streak, he cautioned against complacency. He explained, “Everything is so difficult in this business, what we did in the past doesn’t guarantee anything. You have to do all the things again every three days to stay there until the end.”
Guardiola also highlighted the competitiveness of the Premier League and the challenges posed by other strong teams. He specifically mentioned Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham as formidable opponents. The manager made it clear that he does not expect these teams to drop many points, emphasizing the need for City to remain focused and not take their position for granted.
In preparation for their upcoming match against Everton, Guardiola urged his team to be cautious and not underestimate their opponents. He acknowledged the danger of complacency and emphasized the need to approach each game as a final. Despite their recent success, he insisted that winning the last five Premier League games does not guarantee victory in the next one.
Manchester City has received a boost with the returns of key players Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and John Stones. This added firepower has contributed to their winning streak and gives them confidence as they aim to fight for titles in the crucial months of March and April.
Guardiola’s criticism of City’s chances may seem surprising, considering their dominant form. However, it reflects his desire to keep his team grounded and maintain their focus and determination in the face of challenging circumstances. Only time will tell if Manchester City can overcome the odds and achieve the seemingly impossible task of winning a back-to-back treble.
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