Guardiola says Man City's treble season was 'once in a lifetime' achievement

Pep Guardiola claims it will be “almost impossible” for Manchester City to repeat last season’s treble-winning exploits.

City begin the defence of their Premier League crown - their fifth in six years - when they travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Friday night.

Given their glittering recent history, they will start as favourites in each and every competition they participate.

Guardiola, however, played down talk of replicating their historic 2022-23 efforts, where they added both the FA Cup and Champions League to their league success.

“It feels like it finished yesterday but we start again,” said the 52-year-old City manager. “I don’t think it will be possible to do what we did last season, it’s once in a lifetime. I said to the players forget about it.

“We climbed the highest mountain last season but we have come down that mountain now. We start from the same as everyone else, with the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain again.

“What we have done remains in our hearts and minds but it’s over. The history speaks for itself but it is almost impossible to repeat.”

City have so far made just one major acquisition, with defender Josko Gvardiol joining the club from RB Leipzig. However, with Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan having left the club, they are continually linked with new recruits in midfield and attack - the latest being West Ham's Lucas Paqueta.

But Guardiola said: “I will not answer about Paqueta. He is a West Ham player.”

The City boss also offered no updates on the situation concerning full-back Kyle Walker, who has been linked with Bayern Munich throughout the summer.

“We are wishing he stays but there is no news,” he added.

Another player who has been the subject