Manchester City has secured two out of the three competitions required to make the historic treble. No more than 90 minutes remain between them and being immortalized in the annals of football as being the second English club ever to achieve this feat in a single season.
Is The UCL Manchester City’s To Lose?
In the final of the FA Cup against their city and one of the biggest rivals, Manchester United, the Manchester City players needed no more than 12 seconds before going ahead. The outside foot volley by Ilkay Gundogan was the fastest goal scored in the history of finals in the FA Cup. However, just before half-time, Bruno Fernandes, the opposite captain, took a calm penalty to level the score.
Then, shortly after the break, Gundogan struck once more. This time a much tamer effort from his weak foot. However, the bodies in the way and the short distance blindsided David de Gea just about long enough to let the ball bounce into the goal. That was it. 2-1 was the final score line as Manchester City lifted the FA Cup after snatching away the PL last week from Arsenal over the course of a month.
All that remains is the UCL final against Inter Milan that will take place on June 10th. Manchester United was the first English team to secure a treble. They did so in 1999, in a dramatic twist of fate and against massive challenges. Pep’s Manchester City has been clinical, and some would say, too dominant. For many, it is a surprise that it hasn’t already happened.
However, Inter will not write themselves off as mere underdogs who are inevitably going to lose. It has been quite some time since an Italian club has managed to make it this far. They will seek to secure the final step in Istanbul, even if Manchester City looks like the favorites, by a considerable margin.