City have added the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to our trophy cabinet in 2023/24 as well as being third in the Premier League table and through to the Champions League Round of 16.
This has thrilled Guardiola, especially when you consider the mental and physical fortitude needed to compete once again after a season like no other.
“You cannot imagine,” said the boss.
“I wasn’t scared but I didn’t know what would happen after winning the Treble.
“[We needed] to forget or take off our hangover for the Treble [and then] immediately [there was] Japan, the Community Shield and we didn’t have time mentally to recover, not even myself, I was tired when we started.
“The competition helped us to have that spark, something to reignite again. That’s why we’ve won two titles already and in the Champions League we’re there.
| 1 |
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Manchester City Man City | 38 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 96 | 34 | 62 | 91 | WWWWW | |
| 2 |
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Arsenal Arsenal | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 91 | 29 | 62 | 89 | WWWWW | |
| 3 |
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Liverpool Liverpool | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 86 | 41 | 45 | 82 | LDWDW |
“I was a little bit afraid to be far away.
“I know Liverpool right now are playing unbelievable - back in their best moment for many years, I know it’ll be difficult. Even Arsenal drop points, I saw how they played against West Ham and against Liverpool how good they played, the chances they created but they didn’t get results. Like we didn’t against Palace, Liverpool and Tottenham.
“Sometimes it happens but I know how tough the opponents are. Look at Aston Villa and how consistent they are, Tottenham as well, that’s why I’m really, really, really pleased.
“When you win a lot, you think ‘okay we can do it, we are aware we can do it, we have the knowledge we can do it’ but at the same time you aren’t the same.
“We did it but at the same time its ‘okay, Newcastle, go there and try to do it again, game by game and see what happens.’”
2022/23 represented a third consecutive Premier League title for City.
Winning four in a row has proved elusive for any team or manager in the history of English football but Guardiola is eyeing that milestone.
He believes we’re still in the hunt mathematically because of our league placing but insists he will reserve judgement until later in the campaign.
“Right now, yeah,” said the boss when asked if we could do it.
“How many points left? 18/19 games, still we’re five behind with a game in hand, so it’s possible mathematically.
“It’s difficult obviously otherwise Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, the big clubs and teams who make a legacy and dynasty, similar to what we’ve done, they could not do it which means it’s so difficult.
“I’ll answer this when we’re six or seven games before the end of the season and the position, we are there.
“After I will tell if we can do it. It’s realistic? I don’t know. Right now, it’s far away.”
