Guardiola Rejects Quadruple Hype, Reminds Media of City’s 2018-19 Four-Trophy Haul

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola bristled at the suggestion that Arsenal could make history by winning an unprecedented quadruple this season, pointing out that his own side captured four domestic trophies in 2018-19 even if, in his words, the media “pretend” it never happened.

Speaking on the eve of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, Guardiola was asked how difficult it is to chase four major honours in a single campaign. The journalist noted that City’s 2022-23 treble had brought the club closer than any English side to a clean sweep, but Guardiola interjected: “And quadruple as well.”

He was referring to the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield lifted by City five years ago, a haul achieved despite a Champions League quarter-final exit to Tottenham. “I know it’s not as prestigious, like you pretend,” Guardiola said with a shrug. “But we did it.”

The Catalan has long contested the marginalisation of the Community Shield, arguing that its status as a competitive honour fluctuates depending on who wins it. “When Manchester City win the Community Shield, it’s not a title,” he once complained. “When another team wins the Community Shield, it’s a title.”

Guardiola’s relationship with Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta, his former assistant, was also addressed. The pair now meet only on match-day touchlines, with Guardiola admitting: “I don’t have time to go to London, and I don’t think he has time to come to Manchester. When we were here we saw each other five or six hours every day, so the relationship is completely different after his five or six years in London.”

Arteta, for his part, insists the distance has not diluted his respect. “The feelings from my side haven’t changed at all,” he said. “What I feel about him and the time that we had together… that’s never going to change.”

With both managers fully focused on Sunday’s Wembley showdown, the subplot of their shared history adds an extra layer to a fixture that could shape the remainder of the domestic season.