Manchester City midfielder Rodri sees no reason why he and his teammates can’t win the treble this season.
City secured a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday by drawing 1-1 with Bayern Munich in Germany.
Pep Guardiola’s side progressed 4-1 on aggregate after beating the Bundesliga champions 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium last week.
City became just the third English side to reach the final four of the competition in three consecutive seasons, which means they stand a chance at becoming just the second English team to win the treble.
Neighbours Manchester United are the only English club to win the treble, which they did by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 1998/99 season.
With City locked in a title race with Arsenal, an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United coming up on Saturday and a Champions League semi-final rematch with Real Madrid on the horizon, Guardiola’s side could make history.
After Wednesday’s match at the Allianz Arena, City midfielder Rodri gave a bullish response when asked if he and his teammates are eyeing up the treble.
“We can win everything, of course, that’s why we try to do our best,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
“We did a great seven or eight months to arrive in this moment, to try to fight [for] everything. So we have to give the best of us if we want to do it.”
Dutch defender Nathan Ake – who is a doubt for Saturday’s cup semi-final and the league meeting with Arsenal next week after sustaining a hamstring injury in Munich – was more reserved.
“There’s still a way to go,” he said.
“It sounds like a cliché but we take it game-by-game and then see what we can do this season.”
Guardiola knows what his players are capable of, but he also appreciates the size of the task awaiting City in Europe.
City suffered a heart-breaking 6-5 aggregate loss to Real Madrid in the semi-finals last season, and things aren’t going to be any easier this time around.
“I read yesterday that [Real Madrid have reached] 11 semi-finals in 13 years – hats off! We [have reached] three and we’re like ‘wow, what we have done is incredible’.
“I think all the clubs in the world have the feeling if you want to win the Champions League you have to beat Real Madrid right now. Before it used to be Barcelona but now it’s Real Madrid.
“The question here is to try it – it’s not win it, it’s try [to win it]. And as much as you try at the end, maybe one day you are lucky.”
