Pep Guardiola has achieved a lot at Man City, but the Treble might go down as the greatest in the eyes of many fans of the Premier League club.
Until 2023, Man United were the only team in English football history to have achieved the feat, which was before City became the second, adding to winning a domestic treble and a 100-point season from the years prior.
Many will point to Erling Haaland being the crucial part of the Manchester club’s success, having arrived from Borussia Dortmund ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, a season in which the Norwegian scored 52 goals across 53 games.
The striker deserves the majority of the plaudits for Man City’s success that season; however, Thierry Henry thinks one man did not get enough credit.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Thierry Henry thinks Riyad Mahrez was crucial to Man City winning the Treble
Haaland has not enjoyed Man City’s current season, which has undoubtedly been the Norwegian’s worst since arriving in Manchester; however, the 22/23 campaign was the total opposite.
Although the striker fired his team to glory, Henry thinks both Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez played key roles in the success Pep Guardiola’s side had that season, which he admitted when talking about what Arsenal need to take a step forward during the 2025/26 campaign.
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“If you look at all the teams recently that have been winning big things. More often than not, you can look at the front three and you look at the team, but look at who is on the bench, how many times a guy coming from the bench saved the season,” Henry said on Stick To Football.
“I think it was last season, Haaland went on eight games without scoring, or seven? Julian Alvarez, bang, bang, bang, Riyad Mahrez before, bang, bang, bang, scoring goals and then after, who scored the most? Haaland.
“But when Haaland wasn’t scoring, or he was injured, or he wasn’t there, Julian Alvarez, boom, goal, Riyad Mahrez, boom, goal.
“People always focus on the guy who’s gonna make the difference. That guy will only make a difference if everybody’s on point.”
Henry has admitted that he is a big Alvarez fan, but when it comes to the two players mentioned, Mahrez’s impact on the treble was much greater.
Riyad Mahrez’s incredible 22/23 campaign
Gary Lineker believes Man City missed Mahrez this season as the winger was a magician who could score or create a goal from nothing during tough moments.
City did not have many of these during the 2022/23 season, which is why the Algerian star had one of his best seasons at the Etihad Stadium, producing 15 goals and 13 assists across 47 matches, which included a hat-trick in the FA Cup semi-final.
Although City could use a player like Mahrez at present, the Manchester club made the right decision to let the 34-year-old go due to his age, which is a problem that caught up with many stars this season.
The Algeria international proved to be a bargain at £60m, with the Al-Ahli star now being a player Man City fans will never forget after what he achieved in Manchester, and it seems Henry has not forgotten either.