Date published: Saturday 6th April 2019 7:27
“What the f*ck…” was Pep Guardiola’s response upon being asked about Manchester City’s Quadruple prospects when the season was a few weeks old. Just over six months later, the question is looking rather less preposterous all the while the fences continue to be cleared.
With the Carabao Cup already in the bag, City secured their second final appearance of what is shaping up to be a history-making season with a 1-0 victory over Brighton. The prospect of another Wembley trip, their 16th in nine seasons, wasn’t enough to tempt some City fans to tempt with their hard-earned and what transpired suggests it was a savvy decision on the part of those who stayed away. But Guardiola will be chuffed with his side’s gritty passage to the final.
It is becoming a wonderful habit as City turn the final bend towards the home straight which they hope will take them to Madrid via Wembley again and another Premier League title on their own turf. Liverpool, of course, are champing at the bit to ruin City’s Quadruple chances before it can even become a Double, but the Reds may well be conflicted over what to take from their rivals’ breather from the title race.
In beating Brighton, City were effective and efficient in doing just enough for victory. Jurgen Klopp would probably deny watching the game but Liverpool’s eternal optimist may regard a hefty portion of City stodginess and their failure to kill off a game that was won with a goal inside the third minute as a sign of encouragement. How Klopp reconciles that with the fact that City got the job done for a 14th consecutive win is up to him.
Klopp described his side as “f*cking mentality monsters” after the win over Southampton but City are proving every bit as psychologically robust – perhaps even more so. Liverpool are hoping to be carried towards the title on a rollercoaster of emotion and expectation. In contrast, City are steamrollering towards three finish lines powered by absolute focus and dogged relentlessness.
This is 100% real, no dubbing etc.
Reporter: “Can you win the Quadruple”
Pep: “What the fuck” 😂 pic.twitter.com/kDp0JFTVmJ
— YourMCFC (@YourMCFC) September 18, 2016
This wasn’t a victory that got pulses racing, but right now there are no points on offer for artistic impression. City have scored perfect 10s more often than anyone else in recent seasons, but City seem to know when solid sevens are sufficient. Upon squeaky bum time, results matter, performances don’t.
Since Boxing Day, City have won 22 out of 23 matches. During this quite ridiculous run, Guardiola’s men have had to find different ways to prosper. Thrashings; nervy single-goal victories; penalty shoot-outs; wins earned in attack and others built on defence – City have the complete set.
It bodes well that City have demonstrated the ability to dig deep because that will become a theme in the next fortnight and a half. Having been content to do enough against Brighton, Cardiff, Fulham and Swansea in the last three weeks, the ante is upped considerably over the next five matches when they face Tottenham three times around travelling to Crystal Palace before going across town for the Manchester derby.
But City have demonstrated a knack of knowing when to ease up and when to put their foot down. It’s not such a daft question now…
Ian Watson
