Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola moved quickly to dismiss a historic quadruple on Monday – after one of his own players said they were able to clear the trophies. City face Borussia Moenchengladbach in the second leg of their Champions League Final-16 bout in Budapest on Tuesday, leading 2–0 after making a 2–0 win in the first leg. The match was moved from the Etihad Stadium to the Puskas Arena due to the Coronovirus travel restrictions, which also hosted the first leg.
City are almost certain to win a third Premier League title in four seasons, face Everton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and play Tottenham in the final of the League Cup in April.
Defender Alexander Zinchenko said at an eve press conference that he could see “hungry eyes” in the City squad as they chased all four trophies.
“Of course everything is possible,” the Ukrainian said. “We have an incredible team, the best players in the world. Surely, why not?
“I can see hungry eyes inside the dressing room or inside the team. Everyone is so hungry for the title. That’s what we want.”
This was immediately knocked out by Guardiola, who urged the left hand to focus on the task when it was his turn to address the media.
“I’m older than Mr. Zinchenko,” said the city boss. “I have more experience and I don’t agree with that.
“Zinchenko only has to worry about a good game tomorrow and pass. It’s the only way.”
“Four titles have never happened before and I don’t think it will happen with this situation,” he said.
“The only thing to think about is the game and then Everton. I don’t know what will happen at the end of the season but usually it doesn’t.
“Right now (this city team) is worse than the previous ones because other people have won a lot and this team has won nothing.”
Guardiola confirmed that Rahim Sterling would travel after being out of the matchm squad for Faheem’s Saturday victory.
The Catalan manager said that he was rotating his players and that England did not need to tweet in response to internet rumors, leading to differences between the pair.
“Some crazy rumors on social today … this is absolutely wrong,” Sterling wrote.
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Guardiola said in response: “He is not required to do it. Nothing happened. He was not selected, that’s all.”
He said that Sterling had reacted well to his decision, as he would expect.
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