Pep Guardiola believes emulating Manchester United’s treble winners is possible – as long as his Manchester City squad remain calm.
The City boss admitted the Premier League champions were anxious in the second half of Monday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, with Liverpool subsequently closing the gap to a single point.
It makes for a tantalising final two months of the run-in, with Guardiola refusing to shirk the prospect of either challenger achieving a feat first set by United in 1999.
‘We are in control,’ Guardiola said. ‘We are leading in the Premier League right now. I don’t know if we will win but the destiny is in our hands. If United did it once, then it happened and someone else can do it.
‘In September it is more difficult but there are two months left so it is possible. It’s not easy but you can do it. But it only happened once in a lifetime, that shows how difficult it is.
‘I know my team, the good points and the weak points that we can improve. And it comes from the emotion inside. The second half at Palace we were more anxious, thinking “we are not going to win, we are not going to win” and not playing the way we should play.
‘That is normal – they are human beings, they want to win. I know the desire we have. Be calm, otherwise we are not good.’
City face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final at St Mary’s on Sunday, a team who have drawn twice with them in the league this term. Guardiola is looking to reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup semi-final, although has only won the competition once.
‘The difference at this club is that there has been a strategy for many years,’ he added. ‘It can be this way or another one. This club has to aim. We can finish the season winning all the titles or zero but we have the consistency. This is the reason why (they are successful).’
Guardiola wants Erling Haaland to spearhead his attack next season and said: ‘Right now, listen, It’s impossible that I am going to talk about some guy who is not here. He’s a Dortmund player and we’ve an incredible run ahead of us. At the end of the season it is the transfer window and many things are going to happen.’