There aren't many journalists here, are there? The match doesn't seem very important". That was the first thing Pep Guardiola said when he came to the press conference after Manchester City defeated Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Becoming the first team to reach the final of the oldest English football tournament in four consecutive seasons is often the main event. However, Man City's Premier League title contender, Arsenal, is also playing and winning narrowly 1-0 against Newcastle United to rise to the top of the rankings.
Perhaps Guardiola - the only coach who has ever won the domestic treble in England - feels uncomfortable when his team taking a big step towards repeating that achievement is underestimated. However, he affirmed that it is still too far to discuss.
Man City escaped a scare when they conceded a beautiful goal by Finn Azaz in the 79th minute, before responding with goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez, thereby winning a ticket to the final, where they will meet Chelsea.
When asked about the domestic treble, Guardiola said: "Before the match against Aston Villa - the last match of the Premier League season - I will tell you whether there is a chance or not. Now that is still very far away".
Man City, currently 3 points behind Arsenal but playing one match less, may only have 6 more matches to complete the domestic treble, after winning the Carabao Cup. These matches will take place in a period of 21 days, starting from the away match against Everton in the Premier League.
When asked if each match is like a final, Guardiola affirmed: "Sure. 6 matches, if we win, we will go to the final. If we lose, everything will end.
People often ask what defines Man City. How many Champions Leagues, how many titles. But for me, it's 5 League Cup titles and 4 consecutive FA Cup finals. That's our identity.
You can always have a bad day, with injuries or poor form. But in this tournament, even smaller than the Premier League and Champions League, we are always present. And now we are in the final again".
After an unconvincing victory against Burnley, almost losing to a lower-tier team like Southampton may raise concerns about Man City's performance in the decisive stage. However, objective factors also need to be recognized.
Guardiola has made up to eight changes and left many key players on the bench such as Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva or Jeremy Doku, to avoid the risk of injury.
It is not surprising that The Citizens lacked rhythm in the first half. But in the second half, Southampton almost could not leave their home field before scoring. "Football is unpredictable" - Guardiola said.
What is noteworthy is Man City's ability to come back - a factor that has become a brand. Southampton, despite being in the lower division, still has a 20-match unbeaten streak and has defeated Arsenal as well as Fulham to reach the semi-finals.
Man City's ability to overcome difficulties is what Arsenal is pursuing. Resilience can only be built through decisive moments, and that will be the key in the remaining 6 matches.
Resting can also become an advantage for Man City, as Arsenal has to play densely, including the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Guardiola gave the players 3 days off to recover. "In this country, I learned that resting in time will help you play better. It's not just about practicing a lot that's good.
This is an emotional week. We used to train a lot, but now is the time to prioritize quality. I need the players to be ready" - the Man City captain shared.
Currently, according to the prediction of supercomputer Opta, Arsenal has 72.44% chance of winning the Premier League after the victory over Newcastle. In that context, Man City may not be the number one candidate, but they are still a team full of bravery, ready to accelerate at the decisive moment of the season.
