A FOURTH OF NATURE
Pep: We are good enough to make history with another title
MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola admits he was scared at how his stars would respond after reaching their Holy Grail last season.
But Guardiola insists he could not be happier with his Treble winners – and reckons City are on track to create even more history.
City spent the summer celebrating after winning the Champions League for the first time.
That triumph capped a stunning campaign which saw them become the first team this century to land the Treble.
Guardiola admits he was worried his players would struggle to motivate themselves to go again.
But there was no need to panic because City find themselves in the thick of the title race again, along with the knockout stages of the Champions League.
City, who travel to Newcastle today, are hoping to become the first team in history to win four successive Premier League titles.
And Guardiola, whose side trail leaders Liverpool by five points but have a game in hand, insists there is no reason why this can’t happen.
When asked if it was possible, the City boss said: “Right now, yeah.
“There are 18 or 19 games left, so we are five behind with a game in hand. It is mathematically possible.
“It is obviously difficult, because Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho and the big clubs and teams that made a dynasty similar to what we have done, if they could not do it, means it is difficult.”
Guardiola claims people have no idea how delighted he’s been with the attitude and application of his stars.
The Spaniard said: “You cannot imagine.
“I was scared, because I didn’t know what was going to happen after winning the
Treble. With no rest to get out of the hangover. We didn’t have any time. But the competition helped us to have a spark, to reignite again, and that’s why we’ve won two titles (European Super Cup and Club World Cup) already.
“I was a little afraid to be far, far away, because I know how Liverpool are back playing unbelievable, with their best moments in many years.
“I know it will be difficult. But I have the feeling. That’s why I’m really pleased because at one point when you win a lot, it helps you to be able to do it, but at the same time you are not the same. We did it.
“So we will go to Newcastle and try to win again. Take it game by game, and try to see what happens.” Guardiola revealed he could hand Kevin De Bruyne his first start in five months at St James’ Park this weekend. De Bruyne returned from a hamstring operation with a cameo performance in last weekend’s FA
Cup win over Huddersfield.
Guardiola added: “What I saw in training, he looks really dynamic.
The minutes he played were good, better than the training session before the Huddersfield game.
“It’s normal when you come from five months of injury to have highs and lows in training. But he is getting better, and that will help us to be better for the next months.”