Pep Guardiola shuts down treble talk for ‘tired’ Man City

Pep Guardiola mentioned Manchester City are “far away” from profitable the treble this season and added that his gamers are drained forward of their FA Cup semifinal with Sheffield United.

It’s a feat which has solely been achieved as soon as earlier than by Manchester United in 1999 however City have all three trophies of their sights forward of the run-in.

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They are into the semifinals of the FA Cup and Champions League and sit 4 factors behind Arsenal within the Premier League however Guardiola is speaking down their possibilities of making historical past.

“Look how far away we are before we talk about that,” Guardiola advised a information convention on Friday, “Just 11 games, yeah, yeah, just 11 games. We’re far away.

“I’ve mentioned many instances, what number of instances on this wonderful nation have a treble been finished? It’s one. Our neighbours.”

City booked a Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid after knocking out one of the favourites in the competition, Bayern Munich, on Wednesday.

The squad will have two days to prepare for their FA Cup semifinal against Championship side Sheffield United on Saturday and Guardiola has suggested his players are already exhausted after a hectic campaign.

“Last season we arrived right here [in the semifinals of the FA Cup] final three or 4 years, and we do not carry out properly,” said the City manager.

“One cause is the fatigue and this yr we nonetheless have it. The Champions League quarterfinal is so draining and we’ve to get well.

“Every season I have the feeling we’re not physically ready, hopefully this time we will be.

“On the opposite aspect it is wonderful to be right here realizing we will attain a remaining. When you may have this need to nonetheless be there the fatigue converts to power, one thing optimistic. We battle each sport to be there.

“The human being has an incredible ability to regenerate if the mind is positive.”

City beneath Guardiola have dominated English soccer however have solely lifted the FA Cup as soon as throughout his spell in cost.

They’ve misplaced within the semifinals for the final three years, with the sport often falling on the weekend following a Champions League quarterfinal — because it has finished once more this yr.

“I have to see I have to smell how the players are doing,” added Guardiola. “After Munich they couldn’t even celebrate because they were so tired.

“They did not have as a lot sequences on the ball to relaxation on the ball, they needed to run lots. We will practice and I must talk to some.

“Of course they will lie and say they want to play but we will have to make sure they’re in the best condition. It’s not just this game but we have played many, many games every three, four days knowing if we lose we’re out. It’s fatigue. We will have to see.”