The quadruple is DEFINITELY on for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City after navigating tricky Borussia Dortmund ‘hurdle’, believes Owen Hargreaves… as pundit says ‘no one will want to play them’ as they ‘get back to their best’
- REPORT: Man City survive early scare to reach Champions League semi-finals
- City remain in the mix to complete a historic quadruple in the 2020-21 season
- Owen Hargreaves believes no team in the world will want to face City right now
- Pep Guardiola’s side are 11 points clear in the Premier League with six games left
- Attention turns to an FA Cup semi-final before a Carabao Cup final this month
Manchester City can definitely go on and win the quadruple because they have got over the ‘hurdle’ of their Champions League quarter-final woes, insists Owen Hargreaves.
Pep Guardiola had never made it beyond the last-eight in Europe since taking over as City manager – suffering exits to Monaco in the last-16, Liverpool in the quarter-finals, Tottenham in the quarter-finals and to Lyon at the same stage last season.
But despite an early scare against Borussia Dortmund after Jude Bellingham became the youngest Englishman in the tournament’s history to score, Guardiola and his players got over their hoodoo and Hargreaves believes they can now go all the way.
Pep Guardiola celebrated wildly with players as they reached the Champions League last four
Owen Hargreaves believes City can definitely now go on and complete a famous quadruple
‘The quadruple is definitely on,’ Hargreaves told BT Sport.
‘They can find a way to win games now even when not at their best and Pep deep down will believe they can win all four, he won’t say it but he’ll believe it.
‘No one will want to play City and when they click and get back to their best they will be tough to beat.’
A penalty from Riyad Mahrez swung momentum back in City’s favour in Dortmund before a stunner from Phil Foden made sure the result was in no doubt.
It is the first time in Guardiola’s reign that City have progressed to the semi-final stage
City now face the prospect of a double-header against Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris Saint-Germain for a spot in the final.
‘(Champions League) has been an issue for City,’ Hargreaves added.
‘This is a hurdle and they got over it and they deserve a lot of praise. They have a lot to achieve this season and an opportunity to win four titles doesn’t happen very often.’
Ilkay Gundogan, formerly of Dortmund, felt he and his team-mates were ‘scared’ in the opening 15 minutes and it showed as they went behind.
But when asked if the dressing room will feel the pressure of a potential quadruple, the German midfielder dismissed it out of hand.
‘For me it is not difficult,’ he said.
Jude Bellingham (left) gave City a scare early on as he netted his first Champions League goal
Momentum changed, however, and Phil Foden landed the final blow to eliminate Dortmund
‘We are professionals and want to be successful. We want to be successful in every single game, there are no guarantees but you just try in the next one and that’s what we will do on Saturday and we will see.’
City’s quadruple bid will be given another stern examination at Wembley on Saturday evening against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, who also booked a spot in the Champions League semi-finals this week after knocking Porto out.
In the Premier League City are coasting to another title, 11 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester United with six games left to play.
The other competition that is still live for City is the Carabao Cup, where they will meet Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham in the final on April 25.