ASKING FOR TREBLE
Stay cool warns Ilkay
ILKAY GUNDOGAN has urged his Manchester City teammates not to let any overexcitement dislodge their focus as they close in on what could be an “amazing” end to their season.
Arsenal’s collapse against Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday has put City one league win away from securing the first leg of a Treble with a hat-trick of successive Premier League titles.
They are favourites to win the Champions League and FA Cup with Real Madrid in town for the semi-final second leg tomorrow and Manchester United in wait at Wembley on June 3.
Only United in 1999 have landed the same Treble and Gundogan insisted if they are to repeat the feat they must not let the bigger picture enter their minds.
“It is important to keep the group calm and not get too overexcited,” said the German. “It’s a game every three or four days so there’s not a lot of time to recover so we have to try to make the most out of it.
“You always have to stay in the situation – take things minute by minute and second by second. “And we have to concentrate on what we have to do and the job as a team in the best possible way and with that group we can be very successful.
“If we can keep the spirits in that way, it can be an amazing end to the season for us.”
City can land the Premier League title when Chelsea visit the Etihad on Sunday but manager Pep Guardiola (left) has to negotiate his way past Real Madrid first to ensure that potential title celebrations do not fall flat.
One defeat in one of the cup competitions would mean City’s incredible season, reeling in runaway leaders Arsenal, would finish on a disappointing note.
However, with experienced hands like Gundogan steering them, there is a growing belief inside the dressing room that they can emulate Manchester United’s feat from 24 years ago.
“The most important thing is the attitude and the confidence to trust in your abilities and to know when you do things properly and do what you’re able to do you are going to be on track sooner or later,” said the midfielder.
“It’s exactly what we’ve done in the last few weeks and it’s why we are winning a lot of games.
“We know in the final stages of the season we are going to need every single player.
“It doesn’t matter who’s playing, it’s about the group and the support for each other.”