Kevin de Bruyne on bench for champions | EUROtoday

By Mike McGrath

Pep Guardiola insists his Manchester City workforce have simply 0.01% probability of profitable back-to-back Trebles regardless of their profitable streak heading into the enterprise finish of the marketing campaign.

City head into immediately’s fixture in opposition to Everton on the again of 9 consecutive victories and so they final tasted defeat firstly of December. After their clear sweep of titles final season, their defence of the Champions League additionally continues subsequent week in opposition to FC Copenhagen within the last-16.

“We have 99.99 possibility that we are not going to win the treble because never, never, ever, ever, ever, has anyone done it,” mentioned Guardiola. “The chances to do it again are tiny. This was a fairy tale and it’s more complicated than that.

“If it was easy, another team – United in that time – would do it again. It’s not easy, not even winning at Brentford (is easy). What I like is the satisfaction when in Luton Town when we’re in trouble and we won and the celebration in the locker room, this is what I like in my team.

“What I like is that we are still there. We are close to top of the league and other competitions we are there and qualified. This is what I like at this stage, and hopefully we arrive in March and April with the same feeling to fight for the titles in May. This is the target.”

Guardiola has spoken of Jack Grealish needing to achieve the identical ranges of final season’s Treble win to earn a spot again in his workforce. The England ahead has been on the bench for the final 4 video games, though he was ailing for the win at Newcastle when he was an unused substitute.

“This season was not like last season, but he’s getting better. This season lately he is getting better and we’re looking forward,” mentioned Guardiola.

“He’s doing the steps to get to his best level and now is competing with players at a high level. This is the only reason why. He has to demand himself to get back where he was especially last season and all the time in Villa. I’m looking forward to give him minutes.”

Guardiola admits that Grealish has been impacted by the break-in at his home whereas taking part in within the fixture in opposition to Everton at Goodison Park, which occurred whereas his household have been within the property.

“Hopefully he forgot it but I am pretty sure (it did). I would have been affected too It’s not easy what happened with him, his girlfriend and his family,” mentioned Guardiola. “I think he handled it really well. He’s an incredible person with his humanity and here with the security people at the club and the people at his disposal they tried to help him. It happened. Lately he didn’t speak about that subject so hopefully he’s fine.

“It’s not a big, big problem, completely the opposite. Now he is making steps to get his best and that’s all. We need him, we need everyone and we need Jack. I am looking forward to him being back to his best and giving him minutes.”