Manchester City players are not shying away from their attempt at another Treble despite this season proving even more difficult.
Pep Guardiola’s side trailed Arsenal for much of last term in the Premier League before roaring past them with some unstoppable form in the spring that also saw them demolish Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Europe. The Blues have already booked their place in the last eight of the FA Cup and Champions League but know that March will be a crucial test of their league ambitions.
City must first travel to Anfield, where they have an horrendous record, to take on leaders Liverpool before facing an Arsenal side that are just a point behind them and in sensational form at the end of the month. Having an extra title contender makes things more complicated for City, although they know things remain in their hands.
“Two is a bigger challenge than one. But before the end we still play both teams – in our next two league games,” said defender Manu Akanji. “They are pretty big, I can’t say they are decisive for the league but will be important for how the rest of the season goes.
“Right now it looks good but it doesn’t mean it will be good for the rest of the tournament. There are still a lot of games ahead – there are important games in England now – with Liverpool and then the FA Cup quarter final. Then more league games. So we focus on those first and see who we get in the next round [of the [Champions League].”
Guardiola shuffled his pack for the Champions League win over FC Copenhagen, with Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Nathan Ake among those who earned a full rest ahead of Anfield. The changes allowed teenage midfielder Jacob Wright to make his competition debut off the bench, and the youngster has seen a change in the squad as they approach a key part of the season.
“It’s the decisive part of the season, winning on Sunday would be a big step forward so hopefully we can,” said Wright. “Everyone is focussed on repeating what we did last year and we’re going to work as hard as we can to do that. It’s possible – the best players in the world are in this team and the work ethic puts us in the best position to go and do that again.”
