Pep ruled out the Quad, but it is still on the cards
PEP Guardiola may have declared it impossible - but City are in contention for an unprecedented quadruple this season.
The runaway Premier League leaders reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League and will launch their FA Cup campaign next month.
And while City boss Guardiola has denied they can do it, bookmakers Betfred have further cut City’s odds of securing the quad to 33/1.
“That is not going to happen. Of course not,” said Guardiola when asked about the prospect of a clean sweep. “Come on, that isn’t real. What we’re living isn’t real.
“In football you drop points and you lose competitions.
“I am not thinking about how many titles, I am thinking about the next game.”
If Guardiola insists he isn’t considering it, plenty are. So what are City’s prospects? IT would take an extraordinary change in fortunes for City not to win the league. Guardiola’s side sit 11 points clear of closest rivals United after 18 games, having dropped just two points and won 16 times in succession.
It is not just the results but the manner of the victories, with City averaging more than three goals a game. They appear on course, not just to win the title but to do so in record-breaking fashion.
Back-to-back wins over Napoli were the highlight of an impressive qualification campaign which saw them top their group.
City did suffer their only defeat of the season to Shakhtar Donetsk, but were already guaranteed to top the group by then.
Basel was a good draw for the last 16 and, although there are plenty of big beasts lurking, arguably none have looked as impressive this season as City though. CITY’S penalty shoot-out victory over Leicester on Tuesday put them through to the semi-finals. Guardiola has been fielding a lot of fringe players in the competition and they have needed penalties to make it through the last two rounds. Now, having avoided Arsenal and Chelsea, they meet Bristol City in the last four over two legs and are favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley. CITY begin their FA Cup campaign with a third-round tie against Burnley. If last season is anything to go by, Guardiola will take the competition seriously.
He named strong teams throughout and they progressed to the semi-finals before losing in extra-time to eventual winners Arsenal. City are 4/1 favourites.