Manchester United Treble-winner Nicky Butt has said his old club risk applying a “sticking plaster over a gaping wound” to keep pace with a Manchester City team he believes can become the second English club to achieve the Treble.
City are now on course to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1999 team by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League following Wednesday’s 4-1 win against Arsenal, which puts the reigning champions in control of the title race.
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Guardiola’s side also face Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals and have an FA Cup final clash against United at Wembley on June 3 as they attempt to match the feats of Ferguson’s greatest team.
Butt, who is chief executive at League Two side Salford City, said City are good enough to join United in the history books this season.
“They [City] are an amazing football team,” Butt told ESPN. “Whoever wins the Treble, I’ll be a bit gutted about it, but if they’re doing it in the right way, playing the right way, then fair play to them.
“The project that they’ve had over the last 15 years, from when they took over, they have changed all the fundamentals in the local area.
“The owners are putting money into the local community, building houses. I’m the biggest Red you’ll ever meet, but you can never say it’s not an amazing project that they have put together.
“They brought in a manager that’s certainly in the top three ever in my opinion, and they’re playing unbelievable football. They’re probably going to win the title, they’re into the FA Cup final against United and they’re looking good in the Champions League, so you’d have to say they’ve got a real chance of winning all three.
