Pep Guardiola understands why Manchester United are motivated by the chance to end Manchester City’s treble hopes on Saturday, but has told the Reds that they must match his side for desire at Wembley if they want to keep their 1999 achievement as their own.
Premier League champions City are two games away from emulating Sir Alex Ferguson’s great United side as treble winners, but United’s current squad can stop their rivals by winning the FA Cup final on Saturday. To add spice to the build-up, United midfielder Bruno Fernandes said that his teammates are aware of their fans’ concerns that City could win the treble this season.
In response, Guardiola said he completely understood Fernandes’ comments, but insisted that United will have to raise their game to beat City and put their words into practice.
Fernandes had said: “We know the story of our club and that the fans don’t want City to do that. We know if we win the trophy, the consequence of that is Man City cannot do the treble anymore. But from the players’ side, it is just about winning the game because we want to win a trophy for ourselves, the club, the fans. That is it.”
In response, Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with Bruno Fernandes and company to know exactly the reason why it means more to them, the emotional reason why they are going to play the final. I don’t know.
“I could understand it, it belongs to them. That’s normal. Sport is like that. Records will be broken. ‘That belongs to us. We don’t want anyone else to do it.’ So its normal, that feeling. It’s completely understandable. But it’s a football game, who will be better will win.”
As much as United fans want to win the final to stop City from winning the treble, City fans equally want to brush aside United to keep those treble dreams alive. Guardiola, though, had a word of caution for his supporters – as well as vowing to do everything he can to win the cup for them.