Xavi Says Pep Guardiola Can Win '3 or 4 Trophies' at Manchester City This Season

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi feels as though Manchester City are capable of winning three or four trophies in 2016-17 with Pep Guardiola at the helm. 

The renowned coach has enjoyed a brilliant start to life at the Etihad Stadium, winning all five of his Premier League games in charge, including a memorable triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Xavi, who played under Guardiola at the Camp Nou, feels as though there is more to come, per Thomas Unsworth of Goal:

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Pep is a winner. He will want to win it all this season, and with the squad Manchester City have there is no reason he can't achieve that.

He won the treble with Barcelona and he can win three or four trophies this season. He will want to win it all, of course, the league and Champions League are special—but his ambition will be to win every competition.

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They’re lofty ambitions, but as noted by Xavi, not something Guardiola hasn’t achieved before. In his first season with Barcelona he secured a memorable treble, and City are already looking very much like the team to beat in the Premier League.

The style of football that his team have played in the opening weeks of the Premier League season is unmatched elsewhere in English football. Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette was impressed with the way City went about their business in beating AFC Bournemouth 4-0 in their last league outing:

Of course, it’s early days in the campaign. City started last season with a swagger, too, with many expecting Manuel Pellegrini’s side to romp to the title. However, they faltered in the middle portion of the season, with some poor results damaging confidence.

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Guardiola, having managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich before rocking up in Manchester, will be acutely aware of the way confidence can shift. Xavi doesn’t expect him to let any complacency creep into the squad.

“Manchester City have already established a nice lead in the Premier League, but I know Pep and he will not allow complacency in the dressing room,” said the World Cup winner. “They could be 20 points clear and he would still not allow complacency. Until the league is won he will insist on full focus.”

While there’s been a lot of talk about what City can potentially achieve this year with Guardiola steering the ship, the man himself was frustrated when asked about a quadruple challenge recently. Warning, expletive language used:

Doing so would be an almighty ask. Although City have done so well in the early weeks of the season, there is a lot of football to be played. To maintain that consistency for so many matches up against rivals of such quality, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, is almost impossible, even with Guardiola in the camp.

City are moving in the right direction with the 45-year-old in charge, and there’s every reason to be positive about what the future has in store.

Xavi has experienced the influence the lauded coach can have on a football club firsthand, and his words will add fuel to the excitement that’s gripped the Etihad since Guardiola walked through the front door.