Manchester City on course for another English treble, as in 2019 | OneFootball

Manchester City appear back on track for a clean sweep of the domestic trophies, with Southampton awaiting in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at 18:15. According to L'Équipe, they already have the League Cup and lead the league.

That prospect looked remote in mid-March after Champions League last 16 defeats by Real, 0-3 then 1-2. They lifted the League Cup by beating Arsenal 2-0 on 22 March, won 2-1 against Arsenal on 19 April, then went top with a 1-0 at Burnley on Wednesday.

On Friday, Pep Guardiola downplayed talk of City becoming the first club to reach four FA Cup finals in a row, saying he lives day to day, not by statistics.

In charge since 2016, he could again mark English football by completing a domestic treble of FA Cup, League Cup and league, a feat only he managed in 2018-2019.

City’s revival has leaned on Marc Guéhi and Abdukodir Khusanov at centre-back, a rejuvenated Bernardo Silva at 31 after confirming an end-of-season exit, Rayan Cherki’s spark as a regular, and Erling Haaland’s five in four. Nico O’Reilly’s forceful runs have helped too.

Rodri’s rise has been halted by a groin issue from the 2-1 win over Arsenal on 19 April. He has not played since and will be rested on Saturday. Given his importance, and deputy Nico Gonzalez’s inconsistency, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner’s fitness could be pivotal and may also shape whether Guardiola departs on a high amid recurring rumours of a summer exit.

Source: L'Équipe