Guardiola relishes quadruple quest

MANCHESTER: As their Premier League title rivals Liverpool sunned themselves in Marbella last week, Manchester City were getting muddy in Newport on Saturday to keep alive the prospect of a historic clean sweep of four trophies.

City’s focus switches from south Wales to Schalke for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie today before a Wembley final against Chelsea on Sunday for the right to lift the first silverware of the season in the League Cup.

A decade into the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership, the importance for City to win the Champions League for the first time would have made it easy for the English champions to prioritise Europe this season.

However, after romping to the league with a record 100 points last year, it is another piece of history that Pep Guardiola’s side now crave by outdoing even Manchester United’s treble of league, Champions League and FA Cup in 1998/99.

Two weeks on from smashing Chelsea 6-0, City will be heavy favourites to retain the League Cup this weekend and should cruise past a Schalke side languishing in 14th in the Bundesliga to make the Champions League quarter-finals.

A 4-1 victory at Newport also secured progress to the last eight of the FA Cup and City also sit top of the Premier League on goal difference, although Liverpool have a game in hand.

“It’s better to be in this situation,” insisted Guardiola at going for four trophies rather than concentrating resources into Champions League and Premier League glory as Jurgen Klopp’s side have been able to after early domestic cup exits.

“It’s important in February to be here, in four competitions. Now we go to biggest stage, Champions League, and we will see (what happens) in May and June,” added Guardiola.

Rather than fear the accumulated fatigue of fighting on four fronts, Guardiola is embracing the challenge and at least has the luxury of strength in depth to call on in his quest to rewrite the record books once more.

City were knocked out in the last 16 three times in the last five seasons while their only semi-final appearance came in 2016 when they were knocked out by Real Madrid 1-0 on aggregate.

Schalke last reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 2011 when ex-Real legend Raul inspired their run before losing in the last four to United.

Schalke head coach Domenico Tedesco insisted they can still shock City despite being winless in their last three league games.