Manchester City are on course to become only the second English team to win a domestic treble in 2026 after a dramatic season turnaround.
Pep Guardiola’s side endured a difficult season, with their Community Shield win overshadowed by major disappointments. Poor performances left them 18 points behind the eventual Premier League winners. Only securing Champions League football on the final day provided a rare highlight.
Twelve months later, Guardiola has rebuilt the squad and steered City back to contention for multiple trophies. The team already claimed the Carabao Cup with a dramatic Wembley win over Southampton, coming from behind with two late goals. Their recent Carabao Cup finals have seen mixed results, including a 2023 triumph over Manchester United but defeats to their rivals in 2024 and a shock loss to Crystal Palace last year.
When asked about the treble possibility, Guardiola dismissed it as unrealistic at this stage. He stated, "Too far away." He emphasized the importance of rest before the remaining fixtures, including five league games and an FA Cup final. Guardiola also downplayed their Premier League chances, saying, "I would say the Premier League is almost gone, we are back to second."
City’s rebuild relied on fresh faces after established stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, and Ederson left in the summer. Early struggles included two defeats in their first three games, followed by three draws at the start of 2026. However, the new signings have peaked at the right moment, hungry for success. Their Carabao Cup victory gave them momentum heading into the FA Cup final.
City needed late goals from Jeremy Doku and Nico Gonzalez to avoid an embarrassing FA Cup semi-final exit against Southampton. Their manager now has an 85% win rate in the competition, the highest among those managing significant numbers of games. Doku, the first Belgian to score in an FA Cup semi since Eden Hazard in 2017, said, "Every time you reach the final you're like, 'wow, what a journey it has been'.
GuardioIa added, "No team has made four finals in a row [before].
City briefly led the Premier League on goal difference after beating Burnley midweek but now sit second behind Arsenal. The Gunners extended their lead with a win over Newcastle, putting City under pressure. Guardiola has already won six Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups, and two FA Cups during his tenure. He insisted, "In the Premier League, always we were there. We are in the final again, we have time to prepare with our fans."
City face a grueling schedule starting with a trip to Everton on May 4, with six games packed into 21 days. This stretch will determine if their season ends in triumph or disappointment. Guardiola has stressed the need for mental and physical recovery after a demanding week. Former City defender Micah Richards noted, "When it looked like Manchester City were down and out, they found it from somewhere and that is what champions do."