Beating Chelsea is enough of a target, says Pep | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is only concerned with beating Chelsea and maintaining a challenge for silverware rather than thinking about securing the trophies.

The City boss consistently talked down the probability of another Treble, saying how difficult it was to win during our incredible 2022/23 season.

There remains the possibility of becoming the first English Club to win back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles.

But ahead of our Wembley semi-final with Chelsea on Saturday at 17:15 (UK), Guardiola said it’s too early to think about winning both trophies.

WATCH: City v Chelsea: Wembley is waiting!

“You asked me about the Treble and look what happened, we are out,” the City boss said.

“I don’t know. For the problems that we have had, I know what happened this season with injuries and players that took time to find their rhythm and important players left so I could not expect to be in this position.

“We were close again because we performed to be close but it didn’t happen.

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“My advice for the past or the Treble or the double or these kind of things is why are we not focused on Chelsea? It’s enough of a target to think about.

“[Maybe] when you are one or two games away from the Premier League or in the final of the FA Cup.

“But Chelsea, we felt two times how strong they are with the weapons up front and Cole [Palmer] has been the decisive player, maybe of the season, and they are really difficult.

“We know the situation. Win that game, see what happens in three, four or five games in the Premier League and after that we will see.”

Maurcio Pochettino’s side will be another huge test with Chelsea in form with a 6-0 victory over Everton in their last Premier League outing.

Former City player Cole Palmer has been in brilliant form following his summer switch and is alongside Erling Haaland with 20 goals at the top of the Premier League goal charts after his four against the Toffees.

Guardiola was asked if a big match was preferable following our Champions League exit to Real Madrid and said that it’s normal for successful clubs to have a run of big fixtures at this stage of the season.

“I don’t know, maybe I’d pick one for a week later and do it!” he said.

“It is what is. Same as for Madrid, before Crystal Palace and Luton. I prefer to be in the semi-finals than not, I prefer to be in the semi-finals of the Champions League but for little margins.

“I prefer to play this than stay at home and think about the next Premier League game because we’re out of the FA Cup.

“Until were out it’s better to be here even with the situation and circumstances that we have.

“We go there and try to compete at our best. I don’t want to feel sorry for ourselves for the fact that we’re out.

“At the highest level, these situations happen. You arrive in the last stages with the best teams in the world and the best teams in the country and sometimes you lose the game.

“When you are a top club you accept that as normality. The problem is when you don’t perform.

“You have to accept they can beat you. In football, sometimes you can win when you don’t deserve it. It happened few times in our club but sometimes it happened.

“If you start to complain about this decision and that decision, We were lucky, unlucky what is that? In 180 minutes there is luck for both sides and missed chances for both sides.”