Guardiola’s Citizens look beyond historic trinity
AFTER claiming a historic treble, what do Manchester City do for an encore?
City capped off arguably the greatest domestic season in English football history on Saturday by thrashing Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final.
Having already won the Premier League and League Cup, it made Pep Guardiola’s side the first men’s team in England to sweep all three domestic trophies.
“To win all the domestic competitions for the first time is amazing,” midfielder Bernardo Silva said. “Now it is time to rest, to celebrate and next season we will try and win it all again.”
While City have placed themselves among the pantheon of great English clubs, a cloud does hang over them. Since buying the club in 2008, City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners have spent more than one billion pounds on player transfers to turn the once dormant club into a powerhouse.
But that rise has been wrought with questions and the latest could affect the prize craved most – the Champions League.
European governing body Uefa are currently investigating City for breaches of Financial Fair Play rules and a New York Times report this week said they could face a oneseason ban from the Champions League.
The club has called the allegations false and Guardiola re-iterated that stance after the FA Cup. “I said many times I trust the club,” he told a news conference.
City’s run the past two seasons has been remarkable: 198 points, back-to-back titles in the league and League Cup and now the FA Cup – though ironically it was another English side, Tottenham Hotspur, who eliminated them from the Champions League last eight on away goals.
While last season was a cakewalk, this was more of a labour.
City were pushed to the very last day of the season before prevailing by one point over Liverpool.
The also needed a penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea to lift the League Cup and staged a controversial late comeback against Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
But despite their struggles, they always found light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s one of the best seasons I’ve experienced as a manager,” Guardiola said.
“I wouldn’t say ‘the best’ but one of the best for sure.
“To have gone 10 months in all competitions and be the first team to do that is incredible. It means we have been consistent every three days.
“I love the Champions League but it is more difficult to do what we have done than to win the Champions League.”
And when asked if it were possible for City to get even better, the Spaniard said it was imperative.
“We have to, always you can improve,” he said. “There is no sense to stay still.”