Pep Guardiola has definitely had enough questions about the quadruple chances for Manchester City this season. You can see that feeling reflected in what he had to say following his side’s 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup semifinals today.
It was a very grinder, gritty kind of victory and it featured a fresh new injury concern, as full back Kyle Walker was subbed off at half time. Meanwhile striker Sergio Aguero, who was thought to be a doubt at worst, and probable at best entering this contest, missed out entirely as has not trained in a week. It’s clear now that Aguero’s fitness issue is more serious than previously thought.
It is unprecedented that a side has stayed alive (and already won) all four competitions (EFL Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, UEFA Champions League) this late in the calendar year of a season and it definitely takes a toll, no matter how deep your squad is.
City could end up playing 64 matches in total by the time the 2018-19 season is through, and with that workload comes attrition.
“I will announce something to you, it is almost impossible to win the Quadruple, almost,” Pep Guardiola told the post match press conference at Wembley Stadium. “Put it in the headlines, guys.”
“It is almost impossible to win the Quadruple. Surviving in that stage of the competitions is already a miracle. [No club has gone to April 17 still in contention] that is why it is incredible what these players have done last season when you achieve 100 points.”
“Neither Liverpool nor Manchester City can repeat that.”
“The year after, when you have the tendency to be arrogant or a little more presumptuous or think you are something that really you are not. And still, we are there. That’s why it’s incredible what these players have done before.”
“Every game we lose players but that is normal when you play a lot of games. We are going to try until the end, every game.”
Last year’s City side, in addition to becoming the first in Premier League history to accumulate 100 points, broke PL records for title winning margin, goals scored and goal differential. That is indeed a very tough act to follow. Pep Guardiola and company will stay in London through Tuesday night, as it’s a quick turnaround in the capital city for the next match.
They are at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in midweek for a Champions League quarterfinal clash.
Then comes another road game in London, at Crystal Palace, next Sunday in Premier League play.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.