MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola believes his side cannot repeat last season’s incredible Treble achievement as he looks forward to the new campaign.
Guardiola’s side swept all before them last season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League Treble.
Only Manchester United had ever won those three trophies in one campaign before, when they did it in 1999, and Guardiola is adamant his team cannot do it again so soon after their first time.
City travel to Burnley tomorrow night for the opening match of the 2023/2024 Premier League campaign, and Guardiola believes every other team will be aiming to stop his side.
“It will not be possible to do what we did last season; it is once in a lifetime. We climbed the highest mountain last season, but in the last two days we came down from it and now we start again,” the former Barcelona boss told his pre-match press conference today.
“Everyone has the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain as high as possible. Our football, our level, our mentality will dictate how the season will be.”
Burnley, who won promotion to the Premier League in impressive fashion last season, are managed by Vincent Kompany, who was Manchester City captain under Guardiola.
The Spaniard expects a tough time from the Clarets under Kompany as he praised his former defender’s coaching abilities.
“Burnley have the energy, intensity, the dream to do a good season. Vincent Kompany knows us well; he’s done an incredible job, changing the way they played for years under Sean Dyche. He destroyed the Championship,” Guardiola added.
“To win, win, win, win is difficult – in that division it’s tough. In the finest style, the proper style from Vinny. He’s done an incredible job.”
Guardiola then gave his take on the hectic schedule, which players and coaches have spoken about.
He said: “Sometimes there are meetings with UEFA and the Premier League. We don’t have enough days to play all these games in all competitions. When a team in the Premier League doesn’t play in Europe, it is not a problem, but people say we play in the same conditions. We don’t; we play more games.
“There are no more days, more games, so you can’t give a day off to the players. This argument is from a long time ago and it is getting worse but what can I do? They decide. Nothing will change. When we are invited to UEFA meetings, we cannot go because we are busy. I have to prepare. I don’t have time.”
Burnley versus Manchester City will kick off a busy opening weekend in the Premier League, with six games following on Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Monday night.
PREMIER LEAGUE OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Burnley vs Manchester City
SATURDAY
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth vs West Ham
Brighton vs Luton
Everton vs Fulham
Sheffield United vs Crystal Palace
Newcastle vs Aston Villa
SUNDAY
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs Liverpool
MONDAY
Manchester United vs Wolves
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