Manchester City booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup following an emphatic 4-0 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park, and look to have turned a corner after a sticky period for form. The Sky Blues have responded brilliantly with three wins and three draws in the Premier League, and such form carried itself into the domestic up too.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini described this month as “key” to the Sky Blues’ hopes of challenging on all four fronts, while also admitting talk about an unprecedented quadruple was “a bit unrealistic”, but his side are certainly playing like they believe they can still achieve the impossible. Pellegrini trusts his side to deliver, adding: “I trust in my squad and I am sure we will be competitive.”
While still three points adrift of Premier League leaders Leicester City, the 2013/14 title-winners are starting to get a run of form going, and it will see Arsenal and Leicester wary of City. “We must continue with the same optimism and more responsibility from the rest of the squad. We must continue playing with the whole squad if we want to be a competitive team,” said the Chilean.
After a very slow start to the season, Manchester City are now looking like genuine contenders in all competitions. As things stand, the Sky Blues have a Capital One Cup final clash, Champions League quarter-final clash, FA Cup fifth round clash and a title race. And despite so many absentees, The Sky Blues have been finding joy in recent weeks.
Pellegrini previously said Manchester City are a confidence-based side, and they’ve certainly been showcasing their best form when they have the wind in theirsails, but where will it see the club finish? Despite being points behind in the title race ahead of today’s meeting, City are favourites with the bookmakers to win the league.
“I’m very happy with the performance of the team because we made some important changes (against Aston Villa). We’re playing so many important games that I think we needed to rotate the squad. Secondly we were a very solid and consistent team. It’s very important to have different ways to play. We can’t press high every game because we have so many games it’s impossible.,” said the City boss.
So with Manchester City still on course to win all four major trophies this season, coupled with a real improvement of form in all competitions, are they back to challenge all four fronts?
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