PEP Guardiola is finally ready to talk about the treble after Manchester City saw off Manchester United with a 2-1 win in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Two volleys from Ilkay Gundogan, the first of them coming after just 12 seconds, allowed the Premier League champions to complete the domestic double.
With Inter awaiting Manchester City in Istanbul this Saturday, the opportunity is there to match Manchester United’s historic feat of 1999.
“Now is the first time we can talk about the treble,” Guardiola told the BBC. “Against United, it was special for our city, for our fans. We performed really well. Really, really well. I am so pleased.”
Elaborating in the press conference afterwards, Guardiola stressed that his team needs to beat Inter to earn the recognition they deserve.
“We have done incredible, five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and Carabaos but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised how the team deserves to be. It has been amazing, been fun, but we have to win it.
“We are one game away. I said to the players you have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good, you have to win Europe.”
Gundogan, City’s captain, was the hero and Guardiola paid tribute to a player who is out of contract this summer.
“What a season. The skills are there, but it is the special mentality. When you have these players who play the game like a friendly game, they handle the pressure like, OK, let’s have fun, you are becoming a good, good team. Otherwise, you cannot do it.”
There had been a scare for City when Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot against the run of play, Jack Grealish having been penalised for handball in the box.
“I don’t know how it is a penalty,” said Grealish afterwards. “I am not even looking at the ball. Anyway, Gundo saved me…”
That winning goal, with his left foot, underlined Gundogan’s reputation as a clutch player – his sixth goal in six games at this decisive stage of the season. But it was his first that was a record-breaker – the fastest in an FA Cup final.
– Sky Sports
