That was a relief, wasn’t it? Manchester City looked leggy at times in the FA Cup on Saturday, and it was clear they just can’t carry on at the intensity they have been to win the unprecedented quadruple.

Pep Guardiola’s men know they’re now 15 games away from winning everything, but that task looks to be too much for City’s squad, and probably any squad that’s played the English game. On Saturday, passes were going astray and tempers flared.  It almost seemed like a pre-season friendly, not in intensity but in how sloppy the Blues were.

This is the result of quite the opposite of a summer break though. It’s a by-product of playing nearly every three days since Christmas, something even a squad of City’s size simply can’t cope with. If they do manage to win every trophy, it won’t be in the emphatic style we saw them win the Premier League in last season.

It could get scrappy.

City most talented player, Kevin De Bruyne has only started seven times this season, their captain Vincent Kompany is injury prone and defensive partner John Stones is out injured. The club’s only natural left-back Benjamin Mendy acts more as a social media co-ordinator than a defender and their most influential player, and only trustworthy holding midfielder, Fernandinho, is out too.

City seem like the walking wounded at the moment, but they’re battling on somehow. Saturday was a near miss, but they’ll have plenty more as they chase immortality. The performance proved they need the international break desperately, so they can regroup and prepare for the most difficult month of the season.

The signs aren’t looking good, so despite only 15 games lying between them and the quadruple, it looks impossible for the club to live up to inflated expectation dumped on them by the media.

City fans, how close do you think City will get to winning an unprecedented quadruple this season? Join the discussion by commenting below...