Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini ambitiously declared that one trophy would not suffice for his team this season after they overcame Sunderland 3-1 to win the League Cup.
Sunderland took an early lead through Fabio Borini in Sunday's final at Wembley, but a pair of memorable goals from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri put City in charge before Jesus Navas sealed victory in the final minute.
It was Pellegrini's first major trophy in European football, but with City still in contention for honours in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League, there could be more to come.
City have a chance to avenge their shock loss to Wigan Athletic in last season's FA Cup final when the teams meet in the quarter-finals of this season's tournament next weekend and Pellegrini said that his side would quickly shift their focus to that game.
"We are going to have (had) a great season when the season ends in May," said the 60-year-old Chilean, who previously spent nine years in Spain with Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga.
"We won today (Sunday) just one trophy, but nobody can think that that's enough. Why? We have to win (against) Wigan next Sunday and we will have another semi-final here at Wembley.
"I don't think the top players from important clubs are ever satisfied with one trophy."
City's hopes of an unprecedented quadruple were hit by a 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the home leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, but they could still become the first English team ever to win the domestic treble.
Mindful of the psychological damage inflicted by last season's loss in the FA Cup final, Pellegrini said that it was important that his side had avoided another upset against a valiant Sunderland side.
"Of course it gives us a lot of confidence," he said.
"When you have a chance to win a title, if you don't do it, maybe you don't work with your mind the same way.
"We are the only club that has the chance to continue trying to win all the competitions. If you have the chance to win the first, you must do it.
"I think that for such important players and such a big club as Manchester City, to fail for the second time is not good. They failed last year, but today it was very important for all of us to win."
- Nonchalant 30-yard lob -
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet conceded that City's superior quality had made the difference, joking that there was no way to stop a player like Toure "unless we shoot him".
Toure's 55th-minute equaliser, a nonchalant 30-yard lob, was one of the finest goals that Wembley has witnessed, and City's second goal, a devilishly swerving strike by Nasri, arrived just one minutes and 45 seconds later.
Poyet could console himself with the knowledge that his side also remain in contention in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final at Hull City awaiting next weekend.
However, Premier League survival remains his top priority and he expressed hope that Sunderland's determined display against City would inspire the players to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.
"I've said from day one, it was nearly an impossible job to stay in the Premier League," said the Uruguayan, who succeeded Paolo Di Canio last October when Sunderland were six points adrift at the foot of the table.
"We were at the bottom, too far from the rest, but we have done some special things and I hope this gives us the experience to stay in the Premier League."
The former Chelsea midfielder also offered an apology for his po-faced post-match demeanour and called on the club's fans to sustain the fervour of their support over the closing weeks of the season.
"The Sunderland fans made me feel better because of the way they talked to us on the walk up at the end," he said.
"It's a horrible walk to get the losers' medal. It's difficult to take. I'm sorry I wasn't the happiest when I was going up there. We need them now."
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini ambitiously declared that one trophy would not suffice for his team this season after they overcame Sunderland 3-1 to win the League Cup.
Sunderland took an early lead through Fabio Borini in Sunday’s final at Wembley, but a pair of memorable goals from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri put City in charge before Jesus Navas sealed victory in the final minute.
It was Pellegrini’s first major trophy in European football, but with City still in contention for honours in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League, there could be more to come.
City have a chance to avenge their shock loss to Wigan Athletic in last season’s FA Cup final when the teams meet in the quarter-finals of this season’s tournament next weekend and Pellegrini said that his side would quickly shift their focus to that game.
“We are going to have (had) a great season when the season ends in May,” said the 60-year-old Chilean, who previously spent nine years in Spain with Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga.
“We won today (Sunday) just one trophy, but nobody can think that that’s enough. Why? We have to win (against) Wigan next Sunday and we will have another semi-final here at Wembley.
“I don’t think the top players from important clubs are ever satisfied with one trophy.”
City’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple were hit by a 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the home leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, but they could still become the first English team ever to win the domestic treble.
Mindful of the psychological damage inflicted by last season’s loss in the FA Cup final, Pellegrini said that it was important that his side had avoided another upset against a valiant Sunderland side.
“Of course it gives us a lot of confidence,” he said.
“When you have a chance to win a title, if you don’t do it, maybe you don’t work with your mind the same way.
“We are the only club that has the chance to continue trying to win all the competitions. If you have the chance to win the first, you must do it.
“I think that for such important players and such a big club as Manchester City, to fail for the second time is not good. They failed last year, but today it was very important for all of us to win.”
– Nonchalant 30-yard lob –
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet conceded that City’s superior quality had made the difference, joking that there was no way to stop a player like Toure “unless we shoot him”.
Toure’s 55th-minute equaliser, a nonchalant 30-yard lob, was one of the finest goals that Wembley has witnessed, and City’s second goal, a devilishly swerving strike by Nasri, arrived just one minutes and 45 seconds later.
Poyet could console himself with the knowledge that his side also remain in contention in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final at Hull City awaiting next weekend.
However, Premier League survival remains his top priority and he expressed hope that Sunderland’s determined display against City would inspire the players to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.
“I’ve said from day one, it was nearly an impossible job to stay in the Premier League,” said the Uruguayan, who succeeded Paolo Di Canio last October when Sunderland were six points adrift at the foot of the table.
“We were at the bottom, too far from the rest, but we have done some special things and I hope this gives us the experience to stay in the Premier League.”
The former Chelsea midfielder also offered an apology for his po-faced post-match demeanour and called on the club’s fans to sustain the fervour of their support over the closing weeks of the season.
“The Sunderland fans made me feel better because of the way they talked to us on the walk up at the end,” he said.
“It’s a horrible walk to get the losers’ medal. It’s difficult to take. I’m sorry I wasn’t the happiest when I was going up there. We need them now.”
