‘Don’t be scared’ - Pep Guardiola sends treble message to Man Utd fans after Man City FA Cup win

Pep Guardiola jokingly told Manchester United fans not to be ‘scared’ of Manchester City potentially winning the treble this season.

The Blues made that possibility seem a little more real on Saturday as they beat Sheffield United 3-0 at Wembley, to progress to the final of the FA Cup. Arsenal’s slip-up in the Premier League on Friday against Southampton was also a huge boost to City’s hopes of claiming top spot in the Premier League. Guardiola’s men are also face a repeat of last season’s Champions League semi-final next month when they play Real Madrid over two legs.

United are famously the only side who have ever completed the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and Guardiola swotted aside questions on the topic in Friday’s pre-match press conference. But speaking after the semi-final win, Guardiola sent a wry message to United supporters.

“They don’t have to be scared, we are neighbours. Neighbours are always nice to each other,” the former Barcelona manager claimed, with a smile. “I said yesterday we are far away, the treble and this discussion for a funny moment is okay,” he added.

The Champions League has remained the one trophy Guardiola has not not won at City, but he said on Saturday that the club’s consistency in the league gives him more pride than winning Europe’s biggest prize.

“The reality, I said many times, the most impressive thing for this club, hierarchy and backroom staff is after many years, six years, winning title and titles,” he said. “When you lose you lose in the last stages, finals or semi-finals, still we are there. This is what I’m proud of the most.

“I love to be here and work with this club. One year you can do it. I don’t want to win one Champions League and after in the bottom. Champions League destroys projects when you win or lose, this club is quite stable

“I’m not stupid, analyse the team, what we need, what we’re doing, not come for specific results. After six years, latter stages with seven weeks left, still fighting for titles. We are here to lose the titles. This is the most important trophy we can get.

“Thank you so much for the people, the last three years. The worst performances we have done is the FA Cup semis, we were not here.”