On the way to winning the treble last season Manchester City enjoyed the most run-of-the-mill March considering the history achieved three months later. They played four times, winning two Premier League and two cup matches 16-0 on aggregate. It might have been straightforward but it showed their competitors they meant business.
A year on, this month could define how Pep Guardiola’s three-pronged battle concludes but it will be a lot more difficult. City begin a complicated Premier League period by welcoming United for the Manchester derby on Sunday, followed by games against their title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, with the small matter of a Champions League last-16 second leg against Copenhagen and an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Newcastle also fitted in.
Guardiola is consistent in stating the Premier League is the hardest to win, requiring a level of consistency few teams can achieve. It is not a coincidence that City have lifted the trophy on five occasions under him, having set new standards. Momentum is imperative for City when trying to replicate their success from last season. The points are important but the potential psychological blows of winning three critical Premier League matches could shape the run-in.
“How nice,” Guardiola said of the run of fixtures. “I prefer that than the opposite. We are a team and the key players are everyone. Everyone is so important and it is so nice to have this fixture against United, to have the chance to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, then we have Anfield and then before the international break we have the chance against Newcastle – this is the fourth time we have played this season – to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup. We have worked so far
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