How Manchester City have the tools to win England’s first ever quadruple

Pep Guardiola has conquered three countries already and has set his mark on English football since arriving in at Manchester City in July 1st, 2016. During his time at City he has captured a Premier League title, Carabao Cup, and Community Shield.

With the Citizens comfortably through to the Carabao Cup final after seeing out the job against Burton Albion, after all but ending the contest in the first leg with a thumping 9-0 victory, an FA Cup fourth round tie with Burnley to come, a favourable Champions League last 16 tie against Schalke and part of an enthralling title race, one must ask if Guardiola can claim all four trophies on offer.

If any manager is capable of pulling off the almost impossible quadruple then it would be him, though Liverpool are standing in their way of back-to-back league titles with Jurgen Klopp’s men four points clear at the top of the table. Liverpool have beaten City four times, but Guardiola’s men won their most recent encounter to blow the title race wide open with a 2-1 victory at the start of January

Last campaign City managed to win the Carabao Cup and Premier League. Liverpool smashed City over two legs in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League and were then humiliated by Wigan Athletic, losing 1-0 to the then League One club in the FA Cup.

Rotation of the Sky Blues squad has been essential and will continue to be if they are to compete in every competition possible.

City’s emphatic victory over Burton in the first leg allowed Guradiola to make wholesale changes to his side, which will face whoever wins against Tottenham and Chelsea, with the former currently ahead on aggregate 1-0.

That would mean another final and another opportunity for a trophy, they are the holders of the Carabao cup, and with the problems their two potential final opponents are facing City will be the favourites to retain the trophy.

Chelsea seem to be addressing their striker problem with the signing of Gonzalo Higuain expected before the two play, while Tottenham need to hope that the ground doesn’t open up and swallow any more of their players as their paper-thin squad has got smaller with the huge number of injuries.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko are all major players out for Spurs, Harry Winks as of writing is their only fully fit natural centre midfielder though Victor Wanyama is due back tomorrow along with Lucas Moura whose been missed.

Guardiola’s men host a misfiring Burnley this Saturday in the FA Cup. It again seems like something major would have to happen for the hosts to lose considering that Burnley have only scored 23 goals, including their Europa League qualification run and City have only conceded 17 all season, and that’s in five different tournaments.

If they win and advance to the fifth round, and with rivals Arsenal and Manchester United facing each other, it would only leave three sides out of the top six from last season in the cup meaning the opportunity for the Spaniard to lift the trophy increases even further, providing they don’t name a weakened side then they are likely to at least reach the Semi-Finals before they have any major trouble.

Obviously, they could draw one of those three teams but the earlier on they face them the more chance they have of winning as all of the other sides are competing to get into the Champions League and that would take more priority than winning a cup that guarantees Europa League football.

That would leave only the Premier League and Champions League, the Prem is going to be difficult given they are four points behind one of the best Liverpool sides in years. Not to mention Liverpool’s run does seem slightly easier.

The Anfield based club only have to face three of the top six sides while trying to maintain a deep European run while City have four, including a critical run in February which sees them face Arsenal, Chelsea, Schalke and Everton.

Regardless, both Liverpool and Manchester City are going to have to use heavy rotation to ensure that their European tour ends successfully and overall if Liverpool get one more major injury it could do unrepairable damage.

As Klopp’s men are desperate for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be back as Crystal Palace did some damage down that right flank. Top six teams could have a field day if the problem is not adequately fixed.

Finally, the only trophy remaining is the one that has eluded City since they completed their rags to riches story: the Champions League. City face Schalke, a side they should comfortably beat on paper but tougher tests will await further down the line. Last term they met their end in the last eight when Liverpool dominated them 5-1 on aggregate. Guardiola will be keen to avenge such a spectacular defeat.

Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus may all wait in the next round, all with legitimate claims to win the tournament.

Elsewhere a big-hitter will bow out when a rejuvenated Manchester United face PSG while the Reds square off against Bayern Munich.

City only have to worry about who they get out of those three sides as they are more than adept with dealing with those sides. If any manager is going to pull off the unimaginable then Pep Guardiola will be that man.