Man City: Guardiola Allows Players Time To Recharge Ahead Of Treble Pushnewsline24

Manchester City stay on course for another treble as Pep Guardiola grants a rare mid-season pause before the squad visit Everton on May 4. The team have secured a fourth straight FA Cup final, lifted the EFL Cup, and remain within three points of Arsenal in the Premier League, with one game still to make up.

Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley almost ended in a shock against Southampton, before late goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez earned a 2-1 win. That result set up a final against Chelsea on May 16, soon after City had already beaten Arsenal at Wembley last month to take the EFL Cup.

City’s victory over Southampton made history, as Manchester City became the first club to reach four successive FA Cup finals. The team lifted the trophy in 2023 during their famous treble season, then lost the showpiece in the next two campaigns, and now return again with another treble still possible.

Guardiola’s side also hold a separate record in English football, as they are the only club to win the top-flight title plus both domestic cups in a single season. That achievement came in 2018-19, when Manchester City completed a domestic clean sweep and set the standard the current squad are again attempting to match.

Alongside the two finals, the Premier League schedule remains tight. Manchester City trail Arsenal by three points, with an extra game to play, and still need new dates for fixtures against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, which were postponed because of progress in the cups.

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With that workload in mind, Guardiola is using the eight-day window before facing Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium to prioritise rest. “We have eight days until we go to Liverpool to play against Everton,” Guardiola said, outlining why the squad have been allowed a short break between matches.

Guardiola explained that players can relax away from Manchester, provided training commitments are met. “They can do whatever they want. If they want to travel to wherever, they are completely free. As long as they arrive back on Wednesday afternoon for training.” The manager stressed the importance of that key midweek session.

Guardiola described how his approach to workload has changed during years in English football. “I’ve learned in this country, as many days off [as you can have], the team plays better. Managers believe as much as you train, you play better, but I’m completely the opposite. You have to train, of course, but you also have to arrive fresh in the moment of the game. I’ve learned that. In the beginning, I trained a lot, but now it’s home and quality time.”

The semi-final win also featured a standout moment from Doku, whose long-range strike drew praise after the match.

That goal, followed by Nico Gonzalez’s late contribution, ensured Southampton’s resistance ended and kept all three trophies in play.

Manchester City now move into a decisive spell, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea, the Premier League title race with Arsenal, and the league trip to Everton on May 4 shaping their season. Guardiola’s decision to prioritise recovery, while juggling rearranged dates with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, reflects the demands of another intense run for silverware.