Guardiola: 'Eating three is a once-in-a-lifetime miracle'
"It is impossible to repeat what Man City did last season. Winning the treble is a once-in-a-lifetime miracle," Guardiola said on August 10 at a press conference before the match against Burnley. "I told the players to forget it. Man City climbed the highest mountain last season. Two days ago we went down the mountain and started again, and the whole team has the same goal. There will be It's very difficult to climb back to the highest possible position."
Last season, Man City overcame Arsenal in the sprint to win their fifth Premier League title in the last six seasons and equal Man Utd's record of three consecutive championships. In the FA Cup final, Man City beat the club and city Man Utd 2-1 thanks to Ilkay Gundogan's superb brace. Finally, Guardiola's teachers and students defeated Inter Milan thanks to Rodri's only goal in the Champions League final.
Man City is the second English club in history to win three major trophies in the season, including the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League, after neighboring Man Utd in 1999. If counted across Europe, the clubs have won. The three biggest titles in a season include Inter in 2010, Barca in 2009, 2015 and Bayern in 2013, 2020. With Guardiola alone, he became the first coach to have a treble with two different clubs, with Barca in the 2008-2009 season. and Man City season 2022-2023.
"Our style of play, our behavior, our mentality will determine how the season will go," Guardiola continued. "In football, in sport, what we did last season is still in our hearts and minds. The treble is great, but it's over. Every season, the team starts over again. from zero".
The Spanish coach is not concerned about desire, and expects the team and the coaching staff to promote each other. "We have to challenge ourselves," he said. "If people expect me to be the only one to do it, then this is not possible. Let's take it one step at a time. Use each season as an opportunity to improve."
Regarding the match against Burnley, Guardiola assessed that the opening match of the Premier League is always very difficult, especially against newly promoted clubs when they are full of energy and want to start well. Guardiola also praised his former student Vincent Kompany - now Burnley coach - for helping the team transform and win the Championship last season overwhelmingly.
The Spanish coach expects that both Kyle Walker and Cole Palmer - the player who scored the superstar to open the scoring in the English Super Cup match against Arsenal - will continue to stick with Man City. He confirmed $99 million rookies Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake are both ready to play, then declined to comment on rumors of wanting to recruit West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
