Will Manchester City be the greatest Premier League side of all-time if they win the treble?

There we go, Pep delighted. I guess the best feeling must have been to a nice relaxing Saturday night, wasn't it, in the build-up to this game. There he was, you saw all the pictures of them all celebrating together. First up, three in a row, how impressive is that? Really impressive and I think we've saw this season as the season's gone on that just a class above, you know, I watched them in the Champions League against Real Madrid, a very good experienced Real Madrid side and I don't think I've ever seen Real Madrid get blown away like they did. The quality that Manchester City have got, the way that they hit form at just the right time, the mentality that they've got. I think each week we seem to pick out different players in that Real Madrid game, we were talking about Bernardo Silva, we spoke about Haaland I think most weeks haven't we, Kevin De Bruyne against Everton, when they needed somebody there's Gundogan. They've just got this quality and even yesterday rotating the side, bringing new players in, they still looked so cohesive, you know, in that first sort of 25-30 minutes they still had that quality, the strength and depth and I think that was the difference but to be able to do that, like you say, consecutive seasons like that, three seasons in a row, absolute unbelievable and yeah, what a team they are. Yeah and they are a team that's made out of the squad, aren't they, because they all came in. Those players that came in yesterday looked like they've been playing together for years and that's how well they're drilled but that bench, I mean, it's ridiculous isn't it? Yeah, it is. Listen, they've got bottleness pits of money haven't they, that they can spend but you've got to spend it wisely as well. A lot of people are saying that they should win the league because of what they've got but I think you've got to give a credit to Pep Guardiola this season and the fact that he has rotated so well and I think it's allowed them to be stronger towards the latter end of the season and I think we're seeing that both in both cup competitions, the Carabao Cup and also the FA Cup and then the Champions League and then you look at the league as well and the form they've hit recently in the league, that is because of the rotation and I think Pep's obviously, he's learning all the time and you look at like how long he's been at Manchester City but because of the strength of the Premier League and what it's capable of, it's that he knows there's pressure on every single game. You can't coast games in the Premier League whereas I think you can in other leagues and yeah, credit to him because we laud him for his tactical masterpieces all the time don't we but it's the other side of it as well like you've got to get so right and this season they've been faultless so far. Yeah, it's tweaking things as well isn't it, you know whether it's each season they just seem to like evolve don't they, they seem to do something a little bit different as you speak how many times we spoke about Manchester City with overloads whether it's like the false nine coming into the midfield area whereas now they've got the John Stones role haven't they, that hybrid role whether it's coming in from full back or centre back going into those midfield roles and he's thrived in that so it's like he keeps evolving doesn't he, so he doesn't just go okay well we're the best team in the league we're just going to stay as we are, we're going to do something next season that's going to be a little bit different that opponents are going to have to think about it so he's an absolute genius isn't he? Yeah, I can remember watching Vieira and perhaps more poignantly Petit in 98 who would win the double and then go on to win the World Cup and Petit would go and score in his home ground if you like at the Stade de France but let's talk about Julian Alvarez who started and scored he could go one better here couldn't he, he could win the World Cup and win a treble in a season that's unthinkable isn't it, it's amazing. Well it's not unthinkable because it's within his grasp isn't it, I think the big thing is that I think he's a magnificent player but if he was the number one striker then it's a different type of pressure, the pressure is well there isn't as much pressure because it's like he knows Haaland's the number one striker then it's just coming in at the right times you're fresh you're hungry because you want to start games all the time the pressure is being able to is having to score every single game or expected to score every single game to score big goals as well I think he's proven he can do that I think we forget how young he is because also Haaland's young as well so from Manchester City's point of view I mean the future is is magnificent it's it's the thing now is is that how long's he how long's he going to accept playing that role before he says I want to be the main man now a lot of people will say well will Haaland stick around for long and does he then become the number one striker, is Haaland going to get an itch after say three or four years where he wants to go to a different league and maybe try himself there but at some point he'll want to be the number one striker somewhere. Let's let's talk about Calvin Phillips shall we also started this on we've seen many players at City and not have the best first seasons at the club it seems that working under under Pep takes a bit of time Jack Grealish referenced it yesterday yeah so is is there a chance with him that perhaps next season we'll see more of Calvin Phillips or is there the thought that perhaps for him he needs to move on well I think we've seen it so many times haven't we with Manchester City players like you mentioned where the first season doesn't always go to plan the second season is where you see the very best of them I think Jack Grealish is a great example of last year he said he was really frustrated and he wanted more game time he knew that he wasn't quite at his best and and he said this season he feels like he's been more involved and he feels confident and and back to his absolute best we know that Calvin Phillips is a brilliant footballer we know that the competition for places but I definitely think he'll get more game time next year we'll see more of Calvin Phillips I know he had niggly injuries as well didn't he which has has kept him out of parts of that but yeah I just think that's what happens with Manchester City isn't it and Pep they learn don't they in that first season to adapt to his way of playing I think that's I mean that for me is one of the biggest points is that is the injury coming off off the back of the Euros and I don't think he was fully recovered from that shoulder injury but then also coming off the back of the Euros he's not used to that he's not used to playing over the summer as well he's probably used to being rested over the summer and then you come in new team fresh start pick up an injury and you just don't feel like you get going I think if he has a a good summer off now and don't get me wrong he'll probably be involved in the internationals that are coming up but I think there'll be a point where he gets a long break and then next season I don't see why Manchester City would get rid of him at all I think he's more than capable I think Manchester City fans will be frustrated with him because they haven't seen the best of him but for the money they pay for him he's not an elite sign and isn't he's not one of those where you're a Jack Grealish where you spent a hundred million you're expecting so much it's almost like you've got that homegrown player because he's English but then you bring someone in who's experienced within the Premier League understands it and he's very capable of playing at that level and I think what he's got as well is he's got a really good character yeah you know I listened to Kyle Walker talking about him and he said this guy is lovely really nice person to have around and and I think that I know it doesn't sound like it helps but it does doesn't it especially if you're not playing you want to have people that are good people in and around the squad and and he's certainly that I think I could take a wild guess at Eric Ten Hag's team talk at Wembley ahead of the final but the treble is on standing in their way the Champions League final and and Manchester United at Wembley so okay all three for you yes yeah it's Manchester United have got a puntious chance yeah you just don't know what happens on the day yes a sending off an injury something freak in the game that happens but if you put both teams on paper now and you go from the form book of what's happening there's only one team you can look at do you think he's learned from the from the Chelsea Champions League final where City went into that heavy favourites and he he tinkered didn't he yeah quite possibly um but can you blame him for overthinking things because he's such a clever guy but when it's when it's working so well why would you want to change things so yeah I think he has learned but I also think my players have gained so much experience over the years and understanding what it is to play in a big game the pressure is on in a final because it's a derby that is like extra special so you want the bragging rights but I just can't see past this team at the moment you just look at them and you say the four man United are in at the moment not great a little bit up and down and then you look at the Champions League final you think that could be that could be a big scoreline as well United would obviously claim 99 but if they were to win the treble would that put them above them or they become the greatest Premier League team ever where where would they sit for you they've got to be right up there haven't they with the the consistency of performance the way that that they're doing it I think obviously you look at their Sir Alex Ferguson side and and the longevity of of that you look at the Invincibles don't you I suppose you can also put in the Chelsea side when you know they hardly conceded any goals throughout that season there's lots of teams I'm sure you could put up there but yeah what Pep Guardiola has done with with this Manchester City side they've they've got to be right up there with the absolute very best and yeah they've got a great opportunity to go and win the treble it's going to be difficult against Manchester United because it like you say 10 hogs team talk is going to be pretty easy isn't it and then you look at the final the Champions League final again I think it's going to be difficult in terms of they're going to be so defensively really well organized really sound but I think if Manchester City perform at the levels that we've seen them perform at the levels that they performed against Real Madrid you can't see anybody beating them no English team has won four titles uh in a row I don't want to wish your life away here 12 months time yeah are we sitting here talking about City winning another title well quite possibly they're favorites aren't they they'll be favorites going into it I think the interesting thing is we haven't heard any rumors about players coming into the club and you often hear about murmurs don't you about who they're going to strengthen where they're going to strengthen what they're going to do talk about Laporte possibly leaving who else will leave we talked about Calvin Phillips I don't think he will but then it's Bernardo Silva if you were to lose a player of that quality then who's going to come into the football club after that but everyone's chasing them and rightly so because they've set the benchmark so high so so high