AKE: ONLY NOW CAN CITY TALK ABOUT TREBLE
NATHAN AKE said Manchester City’s players are finally talking about winning the Treble after completing the second leg with their FA Cup triumph.
Boss Pep Guardiola refused to entertain the prospect of the Treble until City had added the FA Cup to their successful defence of the Premier League.
But now Guardiola is happy to talk up City’s hopes, his players are ready to embrace the challenge and have set their sights on a place in history.
“It’s only normal that we can talk about it now,” said City defender Ake (with team-mate Ilkay Gundogan and the FA Cup, above). “Only one game now and we can do it.
“It won’t be easy. It will be very tough and we’ll have to dig in.
“We had to give everything to win the FA Cup and that will give us momentum and belief. We’ve worked so hard for this. It’s been a very long season, with the World Cup in between as well.
“It’s important to get these moments and hopefully we can go on and do it. If you’re so close, you’re going to do everything to do it.
“It’s still one big final to go and we still have to focus on it.”
Ake (with the Premier League trophy, above) identified City’s togetherness as a squad as one of the key factors in their ongoing success – not least the ability to tell each other when they are not doing enough.
“It’s already showing, the togetherness we have as a group,” added Ake. “Everyone is good with each other, works for each other, pushes each other when needed.
“If there are moments when we slack off or feel we have to push more, we feel like we can say that to each other. So the team is very good together.
“Every day the manager demands you’re the best version of yourself.
“Training and games keep coming every three days, so you have to be there, mentally and physically.
“Sometimes there’s training sessions after games, some people who aren’t playing are frustrated, but nobody shows that and gets on with it and trains hard.
“Everyone pushes each other for the starting line-up and that keeps the level very high, so nobody can drop.”