Manchester City still on course for back to back trebles after reaching FA Cup semi-finals

After a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-final, Manchester City have taken another step in their quest to complete the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup for a second successive season.

The continental treble consists of the Champions League, domestic league and domestic cup. Winning it is a rare feat. In the UEFA zone, it has been done on ten occasions and by only eight teams. The most recent winners were Manchester City in 2022/23. If they can do it again this year, it will be the first time the continental treble has been done in Europe in successive seasons.

What do the bookies say?

Manchester City are 15/2 to do the treble. If they fall short, they are 13/5 to win the Premier League and the FA Cup, 9/2 to win the Champions League and the Premier League, and 10/3 to win the Champions League and FA Cup. In the latest odds on the Premier League winner, Manchester City are 11/10. To win just the FA Cup they are 4/6, and to win the Champions League they are 7/4.

Winning any trophy in football is difficult. But winning a treble is extremely difficult. It involves rotating squads, guarding against fatigue, and trying to avoid injuries and suspensions. It also involves needing a bit of luck along the way. So what is the likelihood of City winning the three competitions they are still involved in?

Premier League

In the English Premier League, Manchester City currently sit third as the league takes a break for the latest round of international fixtures.

Arsenal top the table, with Liverpool second. The three are separated by just one point with ten fixtures remaining. After the international break, Manchester City face Arsenal in their next Premier League fixture. City are at home, but with two of the top three clashing, Liverpool look set to be the team to gain the most from the next round of games.

A look at the Premier League fixture list also shows that Liverpool has the easier-looking run-in of the top three. After Manchester City face Arsenal, they take on Aston Villa, who are fourth in the table. After that, an away match at Spurs looks like City’s trickiest remaining assignment.

Champions League 

In the Champions League, Manchester City were drawn to take on the resurgent Real Madrid. Unlike City, Real look to already have their domestic league wrapped up. Real can afford to rest players ahead of the quarter-finals and go into the matches with fresher legs. Manchester City don’t have that luxury.

If City do come through their tie against Real Madrid, they will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the semi-final. The draw certainly wasn’t kind to Pep’s team as they attempt to retain their Champions League crown.

FA Cup

In the FA Cup, City were drawn to play Chelsea in the semi-final. Chelsea are one of those teams who can beat anybody on their day. But in their current form, they shouldn’t be a match for City.

In the other semi-final, Manchester United were drawn against second-tier Coventry City. The chances are that United will win that, meaning if City can beat Chelsea, there will be a Manchester Derby in the FA Cup final for a second successive season.

The FA Cup looks to be Manchester City’s most obvious chance of glory in the 2023/24 season. But one thing that is for sure, is that if City do complete the treble again, they have truly earned it the hard way.

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