Ilkay Gundogan doesn't even think that winning the FA Cup will make up for the bad season of Manchester City.
The 2-1 victory of City on Aston Villa in midweek let them third in the Premier League table, although they follow Liverpool with 18 points with a match that played a match more.
On Sunday, meanwhile, they are confronted with Nottingham Forest in Wembley while trying to reach their third consecutive FA Cup final.
The FA Cup was also hit by Real Madrid from the Champions League by Real Madrid. But even if that happens, Gundogan will not call it a success.
“The past has shown that this is not the standard that we have set for ourselves,” Gündogan told ESPN.
“We know that things were not good enough on our side throughout the season. We can't change that, we can only take it and be honest with ourselves. It is important to admit to yourself.
“There are two more goals for us. One of them is clear to be eligible for the Champions League next year, which is vital for the club and also for American players.
“The other is to try to reach the FA Cup final. We are going back to Wembley for the semi -final and it is always special.
“It will be difficult, but it will be the only chance, with the Club World Cup, for silverware this season. We will try to go for it.”
Next: a trip to Wembley
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The title defense of City capitulated during a run in November and December in which a victory at home at Nottingham Forest was at 13.
Now that the forest wins the reverse 1-0 in March, Gundogan knows that they cannot afford a repetition on Sunday.
“The standard in the Premier League is so high,” he said.
“If you go through all the teams, there is no competition in the world that has this kind of standard. Every game is so difficult. The FA Cup is a reflection thereof and that is why these teams are there. Every team is so uncomfortable to play against.
“When we lost place, we were not at our game and I mean that. It is punished in the Premier League. Maybe in the past we could have been at 70, 80 or 90% and still win games, but now it is so demanding. What they do, they are doing really well.
“They can be in the Champions League next season and they have a lot of quality. We know when we lost to them that it was just not good enough on our part. We have to do better if we want to enter the final.”