Pep Guardiola has admitted that he is now open to discussing the prospect of winning a historic treble with Manchester City after beating rivals Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Two weeks after being crowned Premier League champions for the third successive season, the Citizens came out on top in the first-ever all-Manchester cup final at Wembley Stadium courtesy of two goals from captain Ilkay Gundogan.
The German midfielder scored the fastest-ever FA Cup final goal with a sensational 25-yard volley before Bruno Fernandes equalised with a 33rd-minute penalty after Jack Grealish was penalised by VAR for handling inside the area.
However, Man City put themselves back in front six minutes after the break when Kevin De Bruyne set up Gundogan for another volley which bobbled past an outstretched David de Gea into the bottom-left corner.
Gundogan was denied the first FA Cup final hat-trick since 1953 by the offside flag before the Citizens were forced to put their bodies on the line to clear a goalline scramble inside their box in stoppage time, but Guardiola's side managed to hold on to lift their second trophy of the season.
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A Champions League final in Istanbul with Inter Milan awaits Man City next Saturday as they endeavour to become the first English club since Man United in 1999 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.
Guardiola has previously remained coy on City's chances of winning the treble, but having now bagged a domestic could this term, the Catalan boss is prepared to dream about lifting one more piece of silverware next weekend.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Guardiola said: "Now is the first time we can talk about the treble.
"Against United, it was special for our city, for our fans. We performed really well. Really, really well. I am so pleased."
Guardiola added at his post-match press conference that his Man City side need to win the Champions League to gain the credit that they deserve.
"We have done incredible, five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and Carabaos but we have to win the Champions League to be recognised how the team deserves to be," said the Citizens boss. "It has been amazing, been fun, but we have to win it.
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"We are one game away. I said to the players you have to put the pressure on yourself. To be recognised as something good you have to win Europe."
Guardiola continued: "Tomorrow and the next day they can have off. We've then got three or four sessions to train for Inter Milan. We'll travel on Thursday morning after training. It was so important for us today. The FA Cup is so nice.
"I'm a Barcelona fan but I will love this club for the rest of my life. I know today we gave our fans a good gift to enjoy against our neighbours."
Man City's FA Cup triumph is the seventh in their history and the first since lifting the prestigious trophy in 2019.
Meanwhile, FA Cup final hero and Citizens captain Gundogan has commented on his future at the club, with his contract due to expire at the end of this month.
Oliver Thomas
