Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed his skepticism about the team’s chances of replicating their historic treble-winning season from last year. Despite being the favorites to win the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup this season, Guardiola believes that achieving such a feat is highly unlikely. Speaking at a news conference, he stated, “This is a fairytale, it’s more complicated than that. Try to beat Everton and we will see what happens. We have 99.99% possibility that we are not going to win the treble because never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever has [anyone] done it.”
Guardiola emphasized the difficulty of winning multiple titles in a single season, highlighting the rarity of such a accomplishment. He pointed out that if it were easy, another English team, Manchester United, would have achieved it during their dominant spell. Guardiola stated, “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.”
While Guardiola acknowledges the challenges ahead, he remains focused on maintaining a competitive position in multiple competitions. City’s recent form, with nine consecutive victories, has added to their confidence. Guardiola hailed the returns of key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and John Stones, which have bolstered the team’s performance. He expressed optimism about carrying this momentum into the crucial months of March and April.
Despite their impressive run, Guardiola urged caution among his players and dismissed any notions of invincibility. He warned them against underestimating Everton, who will be seeking their first victory away at City since 2010. Guardiola said, “Too much of ‘how good are we’ or ‘how good, City are back.’ No no, be careful. We will see. The fact we won the last five games [in the Premier League] is no guarantee we’re going to win the next game. We have to do it again.”
Guardiola emphasized the importance of treating every match as a final, highlighting the competitive nature of the Premier League and the potential challenges posed by their rivals. He specifically mentioned Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham as strong contenders. Guardiola expressed his belief that these teams are unlikely to drop many points, making it crucial for City to maintain their performance consistently.
Pep Guardiola’s cautious approach reflects the challenging nature of pursuing another historic treble. While Manchester City’s recent form and the return of key players have given fans hope, Guardiola remains realistic about the difficulties they will face. Focusing on maintaining consistency and not underestimating opponents will be key as they strive to achieve their goals this season.
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