“It’s just pure desire” – Pep Lijnders targeting domestic treble as Arsenal crumble under pressure

“It’s just pure desire” – Pep Lijnders targeting domestic treble as Arsenal crumble under pressure City eliminated Liverpool from FA Cup to reach eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final Pep Guardiola’s men won Carabao Cup final over Premier League leaders Arsenal in March Assistant Pep Lijnders wants Blues to use recent cup from in Premier League run-in Manchester City assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders has rallied his side to kick on from their recent cup heroics to challenge Arsenal all the way in the title race. The Blues progressed to the FA Cup semi-final for a record eighth successive season on Saturday as a hat-trick from Erling Haaland and an eighth goal in City colours for Antoine Semenyo since joining in January sealed a 4-0 rout of Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium . Arne Slot ‘s title holders had no response to the unwavering Manchester City attacks as the Blues put the Reds to the sword as head coach Pep Guardiola watched from the stands, serving the second of his two-match touchline ban, with Lijnders leading City to a third win of the season in all competitions against his former club.

After a disappointing run in the Premier League in March that saw them suffer successive draws against Nottingham Forest and West Ham , Manchester City have turned a corner with recent Carabao Cup final and FA Cup quarter-final wins over Arsenal and Liverpool – as they look to cut down Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the domestic table. Erling Haaland drops Manchester City future hint after Liverpool FA Cup hat-trick Lijnders: We have to build on Arsenal and Liverpool victories Speaking after Manchester City’s commanding win over Liverpool at the weekend, Lijnders rallied his side to go from strength to strength and take their recent form into upcoming league meetings with Chelsea and Arsenal. “We have to because we have points behind, so we need to keep stepping up, keep using the days off to recover well – and then have training,” Lijnders said in his post-match press conference on Saturday.

“It’s the first time this season we can train (with no midweek European commitments). So we give them now two days off and then we start training again. And I think there are several ways to create confidence for a team by doing a few things really right in training, but winning football matches, winning finals – that is what defines a confidence level for players.

“I always felt it like that in the last so many years, and winning is not about technique, it’s just pure desire, the combination of talent and desire and showing that as a group, the organisation in that way. ” Man City’s run-in assessed after cup turnaround City’s season looked in danger of finishing in disappointing fashion after last month’s draws against Forest and West Ham as Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points – albeit having played an extra game. However, the Gunners were bested in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22 by a pragmatic Manchester City side that won their first trophy in two seasons courtesy of a second-half brace from Nico O’Reilly .