LONDON — Pep Guardiola has asserted that Manchester City remains “far away” from achieving a domestic treble, despite advancing to their fourth consecutive FA Cup final—marking a new record.
The team secured their spot in the final, scheduled for May 16 against either Chelsea or Leeds United, following a dramatic 2-1 victory over Southampton at Wembley on Saturday.
This means Guardiola’s squad is now just six matches away from completing a clean sweep of England’s major trophies, having already clinched the Carabao Cup in March, with five games remaining in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup.
However, the City manager is declining to entertain any discussions about possibly replicating the treble he achieved in 2019.
“It’s too much; we’re far away,” Guardiola stated when asked about the potential of winning the treble.
“Before the final and prior to the Aston Villa match [on the last weekend], I might have said it was a possibility. Now it feels distant.
“Right now, it’s crucial for us to take three days off and for the players to disconnect from football and recharge.”
“We’re entering a crucial phase with five league games plus the final ahead.”
City made their way to a record fourth straight FA Cup final thanks to two late goals from Jérémy Doku and Nico González, after Finn Azaz had given Southampton an unexpected lead with just 11 minutes remaining.
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Following the match, Guardiola praised the steady performance of his team throughout his decade-long tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
“What truly defines a club isn’t just the number of Champions Leagues or trophies; it’s winning five Carabao Cups and reaching four FA Cup finals consecutively. That’s what truly matters,” Guardiola reflected.
“We’ve done it again. We’re in the final once more. Now we need to focus on resting both mentally and physically after a challenging week filled with intense emotions from these six matches.”