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Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal has said that Man City may succumb to the immense strain of pursuing a historic treble and fall in their quest to secure a Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola’s squad is still on track to emulate local rivals Manchester United by capturing the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season after Tuesday’s 1-1 stalemate against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final moved City closer to the Holy Grail.
Kevin De Bruyne’s magnificent second-half goal salvaged a draw for Guardiola’s squad and has given them every opportunity to advance to the final in next week’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola will have little option to rest key players for Sunday’s journey to Everton, three days before the decisive second leg against Real, as Arsenal have refused to concede the title race in recent weeks.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, can focus solely on the return leg against City next Wednesday and spare players for Getafe’s visit to the Bernabeu on Saturday now that they have been eliminated from La Liga title contention.
Real Madrid defender Carvajal has opined that City’s pursuit of glory on three fronts combined with the strain and volume of games could prove too much for them.
Carvajal: Man City Will ‘Notice The Weight Of Games More’
The right fullback, who was in the spotlight for his dark arts against Jack Grealish in Madrid’s UCL semi-final first leg versus City this week, believed his side “did a good job.”
“Above all, we were able to contain Erling Haaland who was in very good form,” the Spanish international said.
“Now we have to rest. We have a week, although there is the Getafe game in between,” he stated, “But with them still having the league to play for, maybe they will notice the weight of games more.”
“I’d like it to be like last year, when the three second legs we played in the knockout stage were all at home,” Carvajal added, “But we will go there with nothing to fear. We have to go there to win, to play our game, and the team believes in it.”
City On Track To Succeed Ferguson’s Famed Treble-Winning Man United
In 1999, when United completed the treble in 10 days, Sir Alex Ferguson stated that his players thrived on the fact that every game became a final and a must-win in their pursuit of history.
United won the league with a victory over Tottenham on the final day of the season, won the FA Cup with a victory over Newcastle six days later, and concluded the Treble with a dramatic late smash-and-grab victory over Bayern Munich in the Camp Nou.
So far, City have demonstrated the same desire to accomplish the feat as their local rivals.
They are unbeaten in their last 21 matches across all competitions and have won each of their 14 home games this season, scoring 49 goals and allowing just seven.
Grealish, City’s £100 million winger, cited the team spirit and cohesiveness of Guardiola’s squad as crucial to their mission to win all three trophies this season.
“You’re looking around, playing with these guys who are unbelievable,” said Grealish. “The fans are brilliant, every home and away game.”
“I’m sure we’ll need them at Goodison Park at the weekend and, of course, at the Etihad next Wednesday, which we’re all buzzing for already.”
City face Everton on Sunday, just three days before they will host Madrid in a crucial semi-final second leg.
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