Ilkay Gundogan insists Manchester City’s players are convinced they can pull off a historic Quadruple.
City boss Pep Guardiola and his squad have tried to play down the possibility of a clean sweep in all four competitions, with the Carabao Cup already won, but that has now changed as they approach a make-of-break week.
Gundogan claimed his Premier League title chasers have the quality, experience and belief to carry them through as they start a gruelling schedule at home to Cardiff on Wednesday, before an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Brighton next Saturday and then the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final away to Tottenham three days later.
The Blues' midfielder said: “Yes, we have (enough strength in depth). I am sure about that. If we did not have the quality, we would not still be in all four competitions. That is the main thing.
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“We are already at the semis of the FA Cup, so hopefully one more game to win then we have a chance to win the final. And then we are going to see what games are left.
“As long as you are able to maintain a challenge in every single competition, you feel happy. That is how I feel. I feel like this season can be a big one — even though I had the same feeling last year and we struggled in a few competitions. But as long as we have the possibility to compete in every single competition, I feel I want to win and win and win and go again.
“I don’t know if there is any psychology to it, or if it is just being a sportsman. Because sportsmen always want to do well. It is not a trick. As long as we can go for it, we will do.
"Obviously it makes you feel excited. It is always possible — until it is impossible.
“You need to be lucky and have certain things go for you which you cannot necessarily control. But most importantly you need to have the desire in every single game. And Fulham was a good start.
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“I don’t know if it is a big week or a big month, to be honest. We have over the whole month midweek games as well, so we will be playing every three or four games, which will be very tough, very hard. But a win to start such an immense, important period was obviously important and that is why we are happy about the result at Fulham. Now we go again on Wednesday.”
Fellow midfielder Bernardo Silva, who scored Saturday's opening goal, added: “We know that these two months will be tough. Every team needs points, either to not get relegated or get to European competitions or fight for the league and the Champions League and the FA Cup. We will try to do it knowing that it won’t be easy.”
