Win at Burnley means City still in with shout of three trophies
Pep Guardiola recently claimed that pipping Arsenal to the Premier League title this season would not be his greatest achievement as Manchester City manager.
The framing of the question unquestionably played a part in how Guardiola responded, as a single title could not compare to the achievement of winning the treble three years ago.
As fans of online bingo games will recognise, hitting the jackpot in professional football requires numerous elements to fall into place at the same time.
Landing a bumper payout at roulette is undoubtedly easier than winning three trophies in the same season, yet Guardiola is on course to do it again.
His eagerness to downplay Man City’s chances of achieving the feat is rooted in the desire to take some pressure off his players.
"Our calendar is terrible," Guardiola said. "We don't know what is going to happen. Six, seven or eight games ago maybe we didn't have a positive feeling.
"I had the feeling in January that it was a decisive moment. I have a little experience where there's certain moments - you don't win the Premier League but you send messages to the opponent for ourselves.
"Sunderland, Chelsea, Brighton -- these three games we were outstanding in all three games and we didn't win once and I said 'we missed the chance.'
"But I always had the feeling during the season that we have done really good things.
"After the games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, I thought we had run away. But it is never over until it's over and we are still here."
Victory over Arsenal can be the catalyst for the treble
City’s thrilling 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday added weight to the sense that Guardiola can guide them to another league title.
His team still have some tricky games to come, but none of them will be as tough as facing a team which has led the standings for most of the season.
Defeating the Gunners in the League Cup final in March handed City a psychological advantage in the title race which could ultimately prove to be decisive.
The result placed doubts into the minds of the Arsenal players and they now look a shadow of the team that has led the title race since Matchday 7.
With the Premier League inevitably dominating proceedings in English football, the wider picture surrounding City has been overlooked a little.
They are now on course to win a domestic treble, which would be a remarkable achievement when considering the turnover of players at the club over the past couple of years.
While Guardiola is right to point out that winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup is his greatest achievement, a domestic treble should not be sniffed at.
As things stand, Manchester United and Liverpool will end the season without major silverware. Arsenal are also in danger of ending the season empty-handed.
Chelsea could still win the FA Cup, although you would be hard-pressed to back them to achieve the feat. By contrast, City are well placed to secure a treble.
Guardiola knows what it takes to get the job done
City have become masters of the end of season run-in under Guardiola, often matching the relentlessness Man United previously demonstrated when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
They have regained their swagger at a crucial part of the campaign, which has further served to leave Arsenal players wondering what on earth has hit them.
Declan Rice’s insistence that the title race is not over after Sunday’s defeat was little more than bravado from an over-hyped player who knows that the inevitable is about to happen.
Rice and his teammates have crumbled under the pressure City have placed on them and missing out on the title again will be a devastating blow for the club.
Guardiola and his players will care little about the damage they will inflict on the Gunners as they sweep to what will be a truly memorable domestic treble.