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• Chance to do treble again an ‘inspiration and motivation’ – Bernardo Silva

  Bernardo Silva is motivated by the prospect of making history as Manchester City chase an unprecedented second successive treble.

  City have put themselves in a strong position to retain the three trophies they won in glorious fashion last year after taking control of the Premier League title race at the weekend.

  Pep Guardiola’s side are now two points clear of rivals Arsenal and Liverpool with six games remaining.

  Their attention now switches to the Champions League and the second leg of a quarter-final tie against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday that will begin with the aggregate score at 3-3. They then head to Wembley on Saturday for an FA Cup semi-final date with Chelsea.

  Midfielder Silva said of City’s triple target: “Of course it’s obviously (an) inspiration and motivation.

  “We want to create that legacy and win another Premier League, to do six in seven years and four in a row, and we want to win the Champions League, to do two in a row, that only Madrid did (with) three in a row. No-one else has won consecutive Champions Leagues, if I am not mistaken.

  “If we can win two trebles in a row, that no-one did, that would be legacy. That is definitely motivation.

  “It’s very difficult as in one week we could be out of all the competitions, but we are fighting for it and going to do everything in our power to be, each day, a step closer that goal.”

  Manager Pep Guardiola, who was speaking alongside Silva at a press conference, was more circumspect in detailing his ambitions but made clear his team will be giving everything to achieve the maximum.

  He said: “I am not going to say don’t feel this to my players when they feel this, but I have a different opinion. We are far away from those hypothetical dreams.

  “When we are in the final of the FA Cup, and (have) two or three games (to go in the Premier League) with an advantage, and in the final of the Champions League, I will start to think about that. But not before a game against Real Madrid.

  “We have a lot of difficult games. It is one game at a time and it is Real Madrid tomorrow. I started to think of the treble last season when we beat (Manchester) United in the FA Cup final.

  “The success for me this season is that we are still there, in this position four or five weeks away, still in contention. It’s incredible.

  “Now, extend the chance one more week, then one more week. This is what we try to do tomorrow and Saturday and the next games.”

  Guardiola, as a former Barcelona captain and manager, has had a fierce rivalry with Real Madrid throughout his career.

  This is the third successive year his City side have played Real in the Champions League knockout stages, with the Spanish side going through in 2022 but the Premier League outfit prevailing a year ago.

  And after last week’s pulsating draw in the Bernabeu Stadium, Guardiola is relishing another contest against Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

  Guardiola said: “Real Madrid in this competition is always a big game. It’s been special for me as a player and manager, but that doesn’t count. What counts is what we have to do to win tomorrow.

  “I don’t fear them but I respect them a lot.”

  City hope to have Kyle Walker back after five games out with a hamstring injury.

• Troy Deeney ‘pushing boundaries’ with wildcard slot at UK Open Pool Championship

  Former footballer Troy Deeney hopes his wildcard entry into the UK Open Pool Championship can help “push the sport forward”.

  Deeney played in the Premier League with Watford and later had a spell at boyhood club Birmingham before a brief stint in coaching at Sky Bet League Two club Forest Green, where he was sacked after just six matches in charge having taken over following the dismissal of David Horseman.

  The 35-year-old is set to switch his focus to the pool table when the UK Open event starts in Telford on May 7.

  Deeney hopes his participation can play a part in raising the sport’s profile.

  “It’s something different, isn’t it? Something completely new,” Deeney told Sky Sports. “I just like pushing the boundaries a little bit, and seeing how it goes.

  “I’ve always got fond respect for any athlete in any profession. To do what they do takes hours and years of practice and dedication, so why not try my hand at it when the opportunity has come around?”

  Deeney, though, is not expecting to be an instant success.

  “The aim is to go there and not embarrass myself to be honest, but also be humble enough and vulnerable enough to know these guys have been doing it for years,” he said.

  “You can’t just put a few months’ worth of genuine training into it and a lot of years of odd playing – sometimes with a beer in hand as well – and expect to beat these guys.

  “But I know as soon as I’m involved in anything, my competitive edge will come flowing through anyways. I’ll give it a good go.

  “My end goal for this is to push the sport forward as much as I possibly can.”

• Luke Hannant brace clinches Gateshead play-off place

  Gateshead secured their place in the National League play-offs with a 2-1 win over champions Chesterfield, who suffered a fourth successive defeat since wrapping up the title.

  The home side – facing a third game in the space of five days after losing at Fylde and Maidenhead – took the lead in the 12th minute through a penalty from Luke Hannant.

  Chesterfield fell further behind in the 32nd minute when midfielder Hannant converted another spot-kick – and Spireites boss Paul Cook was shown a yellow card for his protests on the touchline.

  The visitors pulled a goal back on the hour mark when defender Louis Storey turned a cross into his own net, but Gateshead held on to make sure of their play-off spot.