Manchester City season 'extra special' says Pep Guardiola with Premier League title in sight

City could win the league on Sunday if results go their way

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (2l) celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal in their 2-1 win against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg. AP

Referee Felix Brych shows a red card to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye. AFP

Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates with Neymar after scoring their side's first goal. Getty

Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final First Leg - Paris St Germain v Manchester City - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 28, 2021 Paris St Germain's Neymar and Marquinhos remonstrate with referee Felix Brych as Kevin De Bruyne was shown a yellow card REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

John Stones celebrates Manchester City's first. Getty

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (2l) celebrates their first goal. PA

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring the winner. Reuters

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gives his instructions next to Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino. AFP

Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring the second. AP

Pep Guardiola watches the action. AFP

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's season has been "extra special" as the Premier League leaders chase a memorable treble despite a gruelling fixture schedule.

Guardiola's side won the League Cup last Sunday and could wrap up a third Premier League title in four seasons this weekend.

City are also on track to reach their first Champions League final if they finish off Paris Saint Germain in their semi-final next Tuesday, having earned a 2-1 advantage following Wednesday's first leg.

All this has come in a draining campaign which City began after a shortened close-season break, with matches coming thick and fast amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

"It's a lot of games and the problem is the shortness of time. It is home, game, home, travel, travel, here, here, game, game, travel," Guardiola said.

"You cannot enjoy one game. We don't have time to sit back one day or two, take a break and see what has happened.

"The team has been more resilient and calm. When you play every three days you don't have time to see things clearly, because it's the next one - then travel, then organise the team, then whatever.

"This is the most difficult thing when you play a lot of games, but the difference here is lockdown - our lives have changed completely - and it's a shorter period of time.

"That makes this season so special for everyone. Winning one title already, close to another and playing another 'final' on Tuesday. It has been exceptional.

PSG v City: player ratings

PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7: Mistake when he passed the ball away just after half-hour that gave City a chance. Solid save from Foden just before half time. Waited for a City player to head a De Bruyne ball in – and watched as it went straight in the net. Navas was then fuming as City took the lead with the ball going through his wall. Saved a Foden header. AFP

Alessandro Florenzi - 7: Had strike on goal inadvertently blocked by Verratti after 12 minutes and, like many of his teammates, was fantastic in the first half, frustrated and flustered in the second. EPA

Marquinhos - 7: PSG’s captain put his side ahead after 15 minutes, losing his marker to glance a Di Maria corner into the net. Solid second half defending and had just made an important block before De Bruyne scored. Getty

Presnel Kimpembe - 7: Comfortable and assured when City pressed, but culpable for his part in the wall which created gap for Mahrez’s free-kick to put City into the lead. AFP

Mitchel Bakker - 7: The 20-year-old Dutch left back showed maturity with positioning, blocks and headed clearances but then looked shakier after the break as City dominated and got away with one mix-up with Navas. Reuters

Leandro Paredes - 7: Brilliant first half, nightmare second. Headed a Neymar corner wide after 27 minutes as City struggled to defend PSG’s perfectly delivered corners. Cleared a dangerous City ball with a high boot and often too strong in the tackle for City’s protesting players. Booked in frustration after 69 as roles reversed in the second half – and gave away the free-kick that led to a goal. EPA

Idrissa Gueye - 5: Tireless pressing in the midfield three meant City couldn’t get control in first half. Shielded the defence and moved forward well. Became frustrated in second half and made a terrible tackle, diving in on Gundogan’s Achilles tendon – for which he rightly received a straight red card. AFP

Marco Verratti - 7: Vital cog in the PSG machine. Beautiful ball to Mbappe just after half hour. Brilliant in tight spaces and controlled the midfield pace in first half, but totally different in the second as City took their turn to control possession, the game and finally, the tie. AFP

Angel Di Maria - 7: Superb corner to set up opening goal. His side’s set-pieces troubled City all night. Stamped on Cancelo’s foot in the second half but wasn’t booked. Spent a lot of time on the ground but still capable of amazing play. He brought the ball from his own corner flag to set up Neymar at one point. EPA

Neymar - 6: Quick feet and creativity a threat when on the ball in the first half. Almost anonymous in the second half as he was starved of possession with City pressing higher. Booked. PA

Kylian Mbappe - 5: French attacker has 37 goals so far this season but drew a blank here. Quick feet and pace saw him beat Stones and place the ball across the City goal. Fouled by Cancelo who was yellow carded. Getty

SUBS: Danilo - (On for Di Maria 80') N/A. Brought on after Gueye was sent off. AFP

Ander Herrera - (On for Paredes 83') N/A. Cross towards Marquinhos in a rare PSG second half attack. Reuters

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS Ederson - 7: Good stop to tip over a Neymar strike after 13 minutes and had no chance for PSG goal that was down to slack marking. Quick off line just before the hour to stop Mbappe getting through on goal. EPA

Kyle Walker - 7: Not the most convincing of starts from the England right-back as PSG’s quick and fluent attacks caused City all sorts of problems but improved as match went on. Brilliant overlap and ball into box after 64 minutes but no one in middle to stick it in the net, which was a regular occurrence for City. Getty

Ruben Dias - 8: Beaten to header by Paredes who headed just wide to nearly put home side 2-0 up as City struggled to cope with PSG’s superb deliveries from corners. Grew into the game and was excellent in second half. AP

John Stones - 8: Centre-half returning from suspension and up against two the world’s finest attackers in Mbappe and Neymar. Beaten once by Mbappe but stuck to task impressively and the dynamic PSG duo were kept very quiet after break. PA

Joao Cancelo - 5: Superb disguised ball to back post to pick out Silva whose volley was saved, but downhill from there. Earned deserved yellow card for foul on Mbappe after half an hour and cut a frustrated figure in the opening 45. Sloppy distribution and poor final ball so was no surprise when hooked after an hour. A rare off day for Portuguese. AP

Ilkay Gundogan - 7: Midfielder lost Marquinhos for opening goal and was told in no uncertain terms to stick to his man by teammates at next PSG corner. Showed lovely turn of pace to skip past Neymar 10 minutes into second half. On receiving end of disgraceful challenge from behind by Gueye that saw PSG man sent-off. Reuters

Rodri - 6: Caught in possession in first two minutes which gifted PSG early attack on goal and failed to get a grip in first half. Helped turn the tide in second half, though, as the momentum swung City’s way. Good run and ball into box in last 10 minutes that, again, needed a centre-forward at the end of it. PA

Kevin De Bruyne - 7: City’s talisman attacked box down left after 38 minutes but his fine ball into middle was crying out for the centre-forward City needed on pitch. Enjoyed huge slice of luck when cross from left curled into far corner after 64 minutes. Booked for foul on Danilo with five minutes to go that PSG claimed was same as Gueye’s red, which it certainly wasn’t. EPA

Bernardo Silva - 7: Back in starting line-up as Pep Guardiola again started with no out and out striker and forced first save out of Navas with volley while at full stretch from Cancelo cross. Set-up Foden for his glorious chance just before half-time. Buzzed around dangerously after break as City stepped up the gears. EPA

Phil Foden - 7: Good ball into box to pick out Mahrez after 33 minutes. Then should have levelled the scores just before break when he fired straight at Navas with goal at his mercy after going for power rather than placement. Saw flicked header fly straight into Navas’ hands with quarter of an hour to go, then set out on lovely weaving run in last few minutes but could only direct shot with outside of his left boot straight at keeper. EPA

Riyad Mahrez - 8: Beautiful early ball to find De Bruyne but then went quiet until half-hour mark when his dangerous header across six-yard box almost found Silva in middle. Curled free-kick through woeful PSG defensive wall to put City 2-1 up and slammed another shot wide late on. A handful throughout second half for PSG. AFP

SUBS: Oleksandr Zinchenko – (On for Cancelo 61’) 7: A more reliable presence than the man he replaced, making some important tackles and interceptions. Reuters

"I don't know what's going to happen in the last four weeks ahead of us but the season has been extraordinary already."

City will clinch the title if they win at Crystal Palace on Saturday and second-placed Manchester United lose against Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola realises City are close but is not anticipating any slip-ups from United.

"We have an incredible title ahead of us and we have 95 per cent of the chance to win it. It is incredibly close," he said.

"But we still need five points and I have the belief that United can win all the games.

"The best is to focus on the next, and after we have a 'final' like we had three days ago in Paris."