Pep Guardiola tried to dismiss any talk of a Manchester City treble this week, yet the sight of his makeshift side easing into the FA Cup final might mean he doesn't get a choice in the matter.
As key players were rested, it was Riyad Mahrez who lit up Wembley with a fine hat-trick to fire City into another final and keep those treble chances alive. With Bayern Munich dispatched and a stuttering Arsenal up next, City put tiredness to one side and extended their unbeaten run to 16 against a stubborn Sheffield United side.
Guardiola had set a number of challenges for his players after a less-than-ideal record in FA Cup semi-finals, and in the middle of a defining run of fixtures. He will be pleased with the response, as his tired squad passed their latest test on the way to a potentially historic end of the season.
