Pep Guardiola joked that Manchester United fans should not be scared of Man City emulating their team by claiming the treble because of neighbourly spirit.
If Man City win the final and all of their remaining Premier League matches, beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and whoever of AC Milan and Internazionale reaches the final, they will become only the second side to claim the treble after Manchester United in 1999.
There was only going to be one winner at Wembley when Man City got an easy draw for the FA Cup semi-finals against Sheffield United.
A 3-0 win over the Blades means that Guardiola’s side can now concentrate on the Premier League title race and Champions League before facing either Brighton or Manchester United in the final on June 3.
After the match, it was put to Guardiola that United fans are fearful of City completing the treble.
“They don’t have to be scared, we are neighbours, neighbours are always nice to each other,” Guardiola said, as per The Guardian.
“I said yesterday we are far away from the treble and this discussion for a funny moment is OK. The reality, I said many times, the most impressive thing for this club, from the hierarchy to the backroom staff is that after many years, six years, winning titles and titles, we are still there [competing]. I love to be there and work with this club.
“One year you can do it – I don’t want to win one Champions League and after be in the bottom. The Champions League [can] destroy projects when you win or lose [but] this club is quite stable. With seven weeks left, we are still fighting for titles – this is the most important trophy we can get. Thank you so much to the [players] – the last three years, the worst performances we have done in the FA Cup is the semis.
“Today a lot of people from Manchester travelled here so we have to perform well. Win or lose, [we] perform how we should and, in the first minute of the warm-up and before in the locker room, we were there.”
Can United be the ones to stop a City treble?
United have a tough semi-final clash with Brighton for a place in the FA Cup final and, when I really think about it, who would be better than us at stopping one of our rivals from winning the treble?
It would be an almighty ask, of course, but as United fans we can dream of more success this season. That doesn’t take away from the fact that top four is priority for us from this point.
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