Man City target landmark treble

| | London
  • 0

Man City target landmark treble

Saturday, 18 May 2019 | AFP | London

Manchester City are on the brink of a domestic treble, with only Watford standing in their way in Saturday's FA Cup final.

City became the first side in a decade to retain the Premier League title last weekend, holding off Liverpool by a single point at the end of a thrilling race thanks to a run of 14 consecutive league wins to end the season.

Pep Guardiola's men also retained the League Cup in February, the first leg of their potential domestic clean sweep, which has never before been done in England.

Guardiola's side have smashed a host of records during his three-year spell in charge, despite a disappointing trophyless debut campaign in England.

However, a first-ever clean sweep of League Cup, Premier League and FA Cup would give this City side a claim to be the best England has ever produced.

"I'm desperate, desperate, desperate to win the FA Cup. You don't even know how much it's a priority," said City captain Vincent Kompany after lifting the Premier League last weekend.

Kompany could make his final City appearance at Wembley with the Belgian's contract up in the summer and no new deal agreed as yet.

City won their fifth FA Cup in 2011, the first silverware since Sheikh Mansour's takeover, but will be wary of complacency after slipping up against Wigan at Wembley in 2013.

In contrast to City's trophy-laden decade, Watford have never won a major trophy.

And despite losing twice to Guardiola's men in the league this season, Hornets boss Javi Gracia, whose side mounted an impressive comeback to beat Wolves in the semi-final, is taking heart from both games.

"I think it showed us it's possible," said the Spaniard. "We lost both games but I think we showed that we can beat them.

"We competed really well in both games in different moments. In the first game we lost 2-1 but we competed until the end and had chances at the end. In the second one we kept the result until the second half and then they scored from an offside position and the game changed."

Sunday Edition

Astroturf | Reinvent yourself during Navaratra

14 April 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

A DAY AWAITED FOR FIVE CENTURIES

14 April 2024 | Biswajeet Banerjee | Agenda

Navratri | A Festival of Tradition, Innovation, and Wellness

14 April 2024 | Divya Bhatia | Agenda

Spiritual food

14 April 2024 | Pioneer | Agenda

Healthier shift in Navratri cuisine

14 April 2024 | Pioneer | Agenda

SHUBHO NOBO BORSHO

14 April 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda