Manchester City on course to repeat league double

Their first victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side this season means they are 29 matches unbeaten (W23 D6), a new record in the Club’s history. There would be no repeat of their extraordinary tremble last season, but a League Double is still possible.
The Citizens suffered a disheartening exit in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. After a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu, City hosted Real Madrid for the second Leg at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Gladiola’s team dominated most of the game although they conceived within twelve minutes into the match. Kevin De Buyne leveled the game in the second half to send both teams into extra time. Man City was eventually defeated in the resulting penalty shootouts, no thanks to Bernardo Silver and Mateo Kovacic’s inaccuracy from the spot against young Real Madrid goal-stopper Andriy Lunin. The defeat at the Etihad Stadium ended Man City’s European journey and successive tremble bid this season.
Manchester City went on against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final following the end of their UEFA Champions League campaign. Pep Gladiola’s men sought to reignite their flame to hold on to the two remaining competitions they still feature in and bid for. City made it into the Semi-finals after beating Newcastle United 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in March, setting a record of six consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearances in six seasons. The 2017-18 season was the last time City failed to make it to the Semi-finals after a shock defeat to Wigan in the fifth round. The Citizens lost three of their five FA Cup semi-finals, including consecutive defeats in 2020, 2021, and 2022. They beat Sheffield United 3-0 last season to end their winless run in the FA Cup semi-finals, before defeating city rivals Manchester United 2-1 in the finals.
Chelsea was always going to be a strong test for Manchester City. Pep Gladiola’s side has drawn both games with the Blues in the Premier League this season. A 4-4 draw at Stanford Bridge and a 1-1 draw at the Ethihad frustrated Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League. A win against Mauricio Pochettino was crucial to keep City in the race to claim a Double this season. The Blues have had a “not-so-good” season, but have played fiercely against the Big Six all season. They lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup finals and sought to overturn their luck at the domestic finals against City.
Bernardo Silver made amends for his midweek penalty error as he scored the only goal to see Manchester City through to the FA Cup Finals. The Portuguese international scored six minutes to the end of the tight encounter to dismiss any hopes of an extra time or penalty shootout. It was the perfect atonement in the deadline to save Manchester City the stress of adding more minutes to their busy schedule. While celebrating the win with BBC Sport, Bernardo Silver expressed his happiness at the end of a frustrating week.
"I'm very happy after a very frustrating week for all of us and for me personally. "The good thing is, if you play at Man City, you play every three days. So, after two or three days, you have a chance for a bit of revenge and to put things right. "Today, we tried to do that even though we were very tired. We're happy with another final and another chance to win a trophy."
Manchester City had their chances in the game, but Chelsea were by far the better side on target despite having a much lesser possession. Nickolas Jackson was however wasteful in front of goal for the Blues, adding to his side’s frustration. Chelsea saw their appeal for two possible penalties late into the game dismissed by referee Micheal Oliver. Speaking to BBC Sport, Mauricio Pochettino defended his side's effort against Manchester City.
"We were not able to be clinical. We had many chances, but we didn't score. This is why we lost the game. Last Monday we scored six (against Everton). Today we were not able to score with the same chances. "It was a very tough game. We were playing a very good team. I think we were capable of playing a very good game and we competed really well; we need to take the positive things and look forward. "If we want to build something here, it is about having this type of game. Now the focus is on Tuesday. We are not going to have too many days to recover…but we need to think in a positive way to win games in the Premier League and be in a position maybe closer to being in Europe."
Pep Gladiola was happy with his player's performance at the end of the match and will now focus on the remaining Premier League games knowing that losing as much as one point will hunt City in their bid to reclaim the League title. Speaking to BBC Sport on the win against Chelsea, Pep Gladiola expressed his upset about City’s fixture scheduling throughout the year.
It is unacceptable, really unacceptable. Coventry, United, and Chelsea don't play in the week, and let us play today. Next week on Friday would have been better, instead of putting it on Saturday to have less recovery. "It's impossible. For the health of the players. It is not normal, it's not normal. Because we won I have the courage to tell you, it's not possible. "To go 120 minutes... All of you were football players. The emotion from Madrid, the way we lost, and everything. I know in this country it's (the FA Cup) is special for many things but it's the health of the players. "I don't understand how we survived today."
Jack Grealish and Hitman Erling Haaland are the new additions to City’s injury list, although how severe their injuries may be is yet to be known. Arsenal went top of the League on Saturday with their 2-0 victory over Wolves. With a game in hand, City will be tasked to take back their two-point lead at the top of the League table in successive games.
Manchester City will face Manchester United for a repeat of last year’s FA Cup finals. It’s been almost 140 (1885) years since two clubs featured in successive FA Cup finals.
UPCOMING MAN CITY MATCHES
Thursday 25th April - Premier League - Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Manchester City - Time: 20:00
Sunday 28th April - Premier League - Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City - Time: 16:30
Saturday 4th May - Premier League - Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers - Time: 17:30
Saturday 11th May - Premier League - Fulham vs. Manchester City - Time: 12:30
Tuesday 14th May - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City - Time: 20:00 - Broadcast: On Sky
Sunday 19th May - Premier League - Manchester City vs. West Ham United - Time: 16:00
Saturday 25th May - FA Cup Finals - Manchester City vs. Manchester United
Tuesday 23rd July - Friendly Match - Manchester City vs. Celtic
Saturday 27th July - Friendly Match - Manchester City vs. AC Milan
Tuesday 30th July - Friendly Match - Manchester City vs. Barcelona
EXPERIENCE AND CHEER ON THE CITIZENS LIVE!
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Pep Gladiola and his team will move forward from their UCL defeat to win crucial matches that will see them clinch the Premier League for the fourth successive season ahead of contenders Arsenal and Liverpool. Should City win the league, victory against Manchester United at the Wembley finals will see them complete another domestic double, one short of their achievement last season. Manchester City’s remaining games this season promises to be electrifying. Get your tickets now and don’t miss out on the crowd cheering the Sky Blues to victory.