Hunger Games: After Treble, Manchester City Look For Motivation

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola climbed the Everest last year, winning a historic treble – Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League. 

Even they know it will be a tough task to match. 

"We climbed the highest mountain with what we have done," Guardiola said on Thursday.  "The last two days, we came down the mountain."

On Friday, City begin the new season with an away game against Burnley. It is time to climb Everest again, as difficult as it is.

"I don't think it will be possible to do again what we have done last season," Guardiola said.  "It's once in a lifetime. So I said to the players, Forget about it."

Further on, the star manager said, "There will be a lot of difficulties to climb as high as possible the mountain and we will see that our football, our behaviour, our mentality, will dictate how the season will be. What we have done remains in our hearts, our minds. How nice it was. But it's over ... it's almost impossible to repeat."

Man City have a heavy workload this year. Just days into the Premier League season, they will play the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla on Wednesday. December brings the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Consensus is City will need to add more manpower, especially in attack. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has departed for Barcelona, with Mateo Kovacic coming in as his replacement.

Also joining the squad is defender Josko Gvardiol.

Riyad Mahrez, the winger, has gone to Saudi. Cole Palmer, a 21-year-old academy product, can be the boy to fill Mahrez’s shoes but then West Ham want him and he might no longer be at City. So City certainly need some wingers.

All that considered, City still have to overcome one big hurdle. Can they motivate themselves after accomplishing so much last year? 

"We have to challenge ourselves," Guardiola said. "I cannot do it for myself. My staff have to challenge me. I have to challenge them and the players. We have to push each other. If people expect I'm the only one to do it, it will not be possible.

"I have to admit, I'm really surprised — after so many years having these doubts — that we respond amazingly. We start again. We will see."

If there is one man who will be motivated, it is Erling Haaland. For six games — if the Community Shield is counted — the goal machine hasn’t scored. He will be itching to change that against Burnley.