Pep Guardiola’s side are now 12 games away from a potentially remarkable Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble, becoming only the second English side to achieve the feat.
Riyad Mahrez’s hat-trick was enough to beat Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday and reach the FA Cup final, ending a run of three consecutive semi-final defeats in the competition.
They host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday – trailing by five points but with two games in hand – and a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on the horizon.
Guardiola has been quick to rule out any talk of a treble – again describing it as “far away” after the Wembley semi-final – but heading into the season on a 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions, it would have felt is that they are most likely. It will get very close to landing.
And even he admits the whole club has the right mindset to win trophies.
“Fighting for titles, being there every year means the mentality of the club – not just the players -,” said the Spaniard.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Usman told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The whole of Europe is shocked by what Manchester City are doing and how they are playing.”
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville believes the treble is “definitely on”.
‘Am I excited about the Treble? Not at all’
Ask Guardiola about the prospect of a treble, though, and you’ll get short shrift.
“I will talk to you about it after we win the FA Cup and the Premier League,” he said.
“Before the Champions League final we will start talking about the treble. Look how far it is. We are far, far away. How many trebles have there been in this amazing country? How many years? How many teams. ?
“It’s one. Once. How many centuries have our neighbors done this? Am I excited about the treble? Not at all.”
He has had no easy task of quieting the talk growing around him – especially after Mahrez’s show-stealing semi-final display when Guardiola once again showed strength in depth.
Guardiola made six changes from the side that edged out Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek but, after Mahrez’s early penalty eased any nerves, City are in their first FA Cup final since 2019. reached
Mahrez, who became the first City player to score a hat-trick at Wembley and the first scorer of a semi-final treble since 1958, said: “We really want to work hard in every competition.
“We are in the FA Cup final, which is amazing. Now we have to focus on the league and the next game against Arsenal.
“We have a very good squad and a very good team. We have to go on.”
Manchester City will face Brighton winners against Manchester United at Wembley in early June and are considered favorites to defend their Premier League title after Arsenal’s recent clash.
Roy Keane, who won the treble with Manchester United in 1998-99, told ITV: “He’s arriving at a great time and looks in great shape to win big trophies.
“They have some obstacles to overcome, especially Real Madrid. They are red-hot favorites for the league and the cup but the biggest obstacle is Real Madrid.”
Usman added on 5 Live: “Manchester City have taken another step towards that treble. It’s going on, they’re going really well, they’re full of confidence. They really canter games at times. Winning. Coming big.
“Not many teams are sustainable, only a few in the Premier League and one or two at the pinnacle of European football.”
How rare is a Treble?
Manchester City’s 2019 Premier League title win gave them a historic domestic treble, as they became the first English men’s team to win both cups alongside the top-flight league.
But, while a very impressive feat, winning the league title, FA Cup and European Cup is considered by many to be the holy grail.
Guardiola’s men are just 12 games away from becoming the 10th European side to sweep the board – joining Manchester United as the only English side to do so.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool had dreams of a quadruple last season – matching Celtic’s unprecedented feat in 1967 – but ultimately had to settle for a domestic cup double.
Liverpool fans will rightly remind people of their two trebles. Winning the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001, and the European Cup, League Cup and First Division title in 1984 – the only four trebles of different make-up in English men’s football history.
A glance at the record books shows that even winning two trophies is rarely achieved.
In 2019, City became the first men’s team to win the FA Cup and the Premier League in the same season since Chelsea did so in 2009–10 and only the eighth club in history to do so.
Only Liverpool and Manchester United – who have both done so twice – have won the European Cup and League double in England.
Manchester City have won nine major trophies since Guardiola took charge in 2016. Will he make it 12 in seven seasons? You will not reject it.
