Pep Guardiola convinced Man City are closer than ever to ending Champions League hoodoo

Manchester City's record of of reaching three Champions League semi-finals in a row, on top of their dominance in the Premier League, will aid their hopes of a treble this season, Pep Guardiola believes.

While Guardiola won't discuss the prospects of a treble, he has guided City to the FA Cup final, Champions League semi-final and with the Premier League title within their own hands. Discussing the prospects of a potential treble, and whether that would put him on par with the achievements of Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson, Guardiola wouldn't be drawn into any comparisons.

However, he did accept that City are close to achieving 'something exceptional', and are in a stronger position than ever to get over the line in the final ten (or 11) games of the season.

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"I know if we don't win the treble or the title will be a failure. It doesn't matter, we accept," he said. "Important is being there, prepare for the final of the FA Cup, Premier League is in our hands. Doesn't matter what happens at the Emirates Stadium [Arsenal's results], depends on us. Look at ourselves, prepare as we have been as we have done last three, four months.

"Do everything and we'll be closer to doing something exceptional. We cannot deny it. Winning another Premier League, how exceptional would that be?"

Guardiola has preached the importance of thinking about the next game and nothing more throughout his career, although he did counter that on Friday by saying 'you cannot win anything if you don't think about wanting to do it. Of course we think about it' - in relation to the Champions League.

Another of Guardiola's often-repeated mantras is that regularly