IT’S HAAL A DREAM
PEP IS BRACED FOR BIG BATTLE JACK BACKED TO COME UP TRUMPS IN FINAL MAN CITY v MAN UNITED
like that. Records will be broken.
“It belongs to them. They don’t want anyone else to do it.
“So it’s normal, that feeling.
“It’s completely understandable.”
Guardiola insists he is so focused on beating United that he’s even banned talk of the Champions
League final against Inter Milan next weekend.
He added: “We didn’t speak once about Inter.
“United deserve our full attention and commitment — and the players are aware of that.
“It’s a football game and everything can happen.
“But we will do everything to beat United.”
Erik ten Hag has already shown this season he has what it takes to beat Guardiola.
Defeat
United’s 2-1 win over City at Old Trafford in January went some way to soothing the pain of their 6-3 defeat at the Etihad earlier in the season.
Although United’s victory was beset by controversy over an equaliser scored by Fernandes, with Marcus Rashford seemingly offside, it was a major statement from Ten Hag.
While today’s Wembley showdown is not as simple as master versus apprentice, with 53-year-old Ten Hag a year older than Guardiola, it is a chance for the United boss to prove he can beat the best coach of his generation and that the winter win was no fluke.
Guardiola and Ten Hag know each other well, ever since the latter was appointed head coach of Bayern Munich’s reserve team in 2013.
ERLING Haaland admits it would be a “dream” to win a Treble in his first season in English football.
Manchester City remain on course to emulate what United did in 1999 by winning all three of the biggest trophies.
Pep Guardiola’s men have won the Premier League and face United in today’s FA Cup final.
If they win, City can complete the Treble with victory over Inter Milan in next Saturday’s Champions League final in Istanbul.
Haaland, who has plundered a record 52 goals this season, admits City are desperate to do the Treble to match what neighbours
United did 24 years ago.
Haaland said: “It would be unreal to make this history.
“This is why they bought me, to get this. We don’t have to hide that.
“It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen.
“It’s my biggest dream and hopefully dreams do come true.
“But it’s not easy — it’s two finals against two good teams that will do everything they can to try to destroy that.”
Haaland reckons United will be very motivated this afternoon, in a bid to stop City from becoming just the second side in history to land the glamorous Treble.
He said: “It will not be an easy game. We have to play our game. We have to not think too much, we have to focus on ourselves and we have to play the game we should play.
“In the end we’ll see. It’s a 90-minute football game and the ones who do it best in these games can win.
“They will be motivated, they will be ready and we have to play at our best, because if we play at our best
GREALISH’S old mentor
Tim Sherwood is tipping the Manchester City star to deliver another inspirational FA Cup display – after backing his decision to snub Manchester United.
Sherwood was Aston Villa manager when he gave Grealish his first top-flight start in April 2015 aged 19.
His faith in the starlet was repaid handsomely when he inspired
Villa to safety and into the FA Cup final with a dazzling performance against Liverpool.
Sherwood has been delighted to see Grealish (27) come good at City this season after taking his time to adjust last campaign following a record
€115m move from Villa in 2021.
He has played a major role in a second successive title for
Motivated
we have a really good chance of achieving exactly that.”
Haaland admits his life has changed since joining City, insisting it is impossible for him to go out in public without being recognised and attracting attention.
Normally
The Norwegian superstar said: “I can’t live normally any more. That’s how my life is, I can’t complain. I try to enjoy
Pep Guardiola’s side.
Sherwood expects Grealish to have a key role in City’s quest for the Treble against United in the FA Cup final and Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Price
“It was a big price tag but if anyone can handle that, it will be someone like Jack Grealish,” said every single moment of it.
“I’m 196cm tall and have got long blonde hair, so wherever I go, people are going to see me. That’s how my life is. What can I do? I just have to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Try to relax when I’m home with good people around me, that’s really important.”
Haaland has also fired an ominous warning to all his rivals — by insisting he can take his game to another level
Sherwood.
“The bigger the pressure and the higher the occasion, the more he grows. I found that when he was a young boy. Give him the opportunity on a big stage with a pressurised environment, he would come to the front.
“He is made for that and almost born for it. I would be amazed if he didn’t play in both cup finals.
“Jack is a Mensa footballer – there are not many brighter footballers than him.
“He has proven it by realising he has to get his head down, listen to Pep and his teammates, with a load of leaders among them, and improve. And Guardiola is reaping the benefits of putting the time into Jack.” next season.
He added: “I’ve been developing in a really positive way and that’s really important for me because I’m still really young.
Career
“I’m 22, I’ve got a long career ahead of me and I still have to develop.
“That’s also something I was thinking of over one year ago when I was thinking about my next move.”