Talk of Quad gathers pace, now even in the City dressing room...
CITY have been keen not to mention the Quadruple in public.
While it may have been the talk of the dressing room at the Etihad for at least a month, the players and Pep Guardiola have been keen not to make too much of their form when there is still so much of the season to go.
But with the Blues now 90 minutes away from one trophy, they are growing less cautious about mentioning how good the team looks.
Leroy Sane has had an excellent start to 2018, making three goals and four assists in six appearances to keep them firing on all fronts.
After breaking many a defensive line, the German has been one of the first to come out and talk up their chances.
“We can play such a great season,” he said at the weekend.
“If we continue to play on this level, I think we can win everything: Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League.”
Pep Guardiola signalled his intent in the Carabao Cup by selecting a strong team against Bristol City, and Kevin de Bruyne put in another storming performance to pull the team through to the final.
The Belgian may not be talking too much about the big picture, but does believe the first trophy of the season can help others.
“I think the manager’s trying to win the games, and we are trying to do the same,” he said. “Obviously sometimes it’s very hard, but the team is coping well with that. In the end, for the moment it’s going well. Hopefully we can finish it.
“We are not thinking about the Quadruple. Obviously we want to try it, because we want to win every game. But to win all four, it’s a hard task. It’s not like we’re thinking ahead like we want to win all four.
“The [next] game that’s coming, you want to win it. So now, Sunday is FA Cup against Cardiff and we want to win that game, and then it goes on.
“It’s the positive thinking from game to game, that’s better than to think two months ahead. You don’t know what’s going to happen.
“Winning a trophy early can help you. It motivates you to keep going. Obviously the season is very hard, you play a lot of games, but if you win [the Carabao Cup] you already have something. We are in a good position in the Premier League, so these finals can only help us.
“Every game, we were there – even sometimes when it is difficult, it’s different from [league] competition, it’s all or nothing. But it’s the first title you can win. And we go to the final, it’s a game of all or nothing.”