Sixty-eight minutes had elapsed when Erling Haaland’s day was done. Probably 23 more than Manchester City had originally hoped, which speaks to how good Sheffield United were in containing the Treble hunters.
Haaland’s name was missing on the scoresheet for a change — it was monopolised by Riyad Mahrez instead — and his goal tally will stay at 48 for a little while longer.
As he came off and embraced Pep Guardiola, the pair briefly refused to let go of each other.
A big Viking grin and vigorous hug, an FA Cup final to look forward to. Even to a young man who wants Champions Leagues and Ballon d’Ors, beating second-tier opposition at Wembley felt just as important.
It is a step along the way to the thing Guardiola would rather not talk about. The really big stuff lies in wait on Wednesday: Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, the night of the season.
Erling Haaland was pumped up after Man City’s win over Sheffield United suggesting he and his team mates are ready to dial it up to turbo in their upcoming clash against Arsenal
Winger Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick to ensure Manchester City’s treble chances are alive
To see Haaland this pumped on Saturday, bounding on to the pitch at full time, suggests he and City are ready to dial it up to turbo in what could become a Premier League classic.
‘It is a final — against a team who has been the best team in England so far,’ said Guardiola after City went 16 games unbeaten in all competitions. ‘The momentum is key — it doesn’t matter if you play every three or four days if you are winning, winning.
‘Hopefully all of Manchester will be blue and they can come to support us. We need incredible noise from the first minute to the last as I know which opponent we are going to play against.
‘If we win it’s a step to getting it completely in our hands. We have this opportunity and we want to take it. Hopefully the Etihad will be full three hours before kick-off.’
The weekend could not have gone any better for City. Before beating the Blades, in a game which saw Guardiola rest some players but not everyone, came Arsenal’s latest blow-up against Southampton. The gap is now only five points, with Mikel Arteta’s side having dropped six points in three matches, and City possessing two games in hand.
City have the momentum behind them with Arsenal dropping points in their prior three games
Muscle memory seems to have kicked in up north, while Gabriel Jesus — City’s former striker — admitted Arsenal’s lack of experience is of significance.
There will be a freshness to Rodri, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias, none of whom played on Saturday, and Guardiola believes some needed that day off given how much Bayern Munich took out of them.
The likes of Kyle Walker, being tracked by AC Milan, took on additional responsibility to make sure there would be no upset. Mahrez too, who has struggled to deal with his extended period out of the preferred starting XI.
City, who operate with a smaller squad than most, have been making it clear how exhausted some of their stars are heading into a run that could end up rewriting history. ‘I wasn’t giving rest because the FA Cup is not important — it’s not about that,’ said Guardiola. ‘I saw them tired. Rodri told my staff, “I cannot play, I’m devastated”. When that happens, you don’t play.
‘I had a feeling with John and the other ones. I spoke with Ilkay Gundogan and he said he felt fresh. If you make a lot of changes you drop your level too much.’
Pep Guardiola will hope the management of key players will help them against Arsenal
Rodri’s discussion was similar to one Bernardo Silva had a while ago, when he was out on his feet. Silva did not ask to be taken out of the firing line but was left out for a few games anyway.
Guardiola will hope the management of key players enables them to attack Arsenal and take the title away from their clutches, but he remains wary of Arteta. ‘The relationship has changed because he’s in London and I’m in Manchester, we don’t see each other as often,’ said the Catalan. ‘He’s busy and I’m busy — but the affection and respect I have with him will remain forever.
‘They went to Anfield and got a result (2-2) — that’s not easy. And when you play teams like West Ham, they are fighting to survive and it’s difficult for everyone. Everyone plays for something, either the Champions League, Europa League or staying up.
‘It’s difficult and of course it (dropping points) can happen to us. The momentum can go and we can lose. I know how difficult it will be.
source:dailymail.co.uk
