Pep Guardiola hopes EFL Cup is catalyst for more success

"We will rest and prepare for the semi-final first leg against PSG. After that, we are two games away from winning the most important title.

"The Premier League is the most important title, the one I am proud of the most. In this crazy schedule, between the games against PSG, we'll try to win the first one against Crystal Palace.

"We won the first one, we are close to a second one and we go to Paris to try for another one."

Guardiola raised a few eyebrows with a strong team selection that included Kevin De Bruyne, who has just recovered from an ankle injury.

But the Spaniard did not want to take any risks against Spurs having been beaten in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final.

"We cannot deny one eye is always in the Champions League," Guardiola added. "We are in the semi-final for only the second time, always one eye on that.

"But once we arrived at the final, and after what happened against Chelsea, we thought the best way to arrive for it.

"People said you picked a strong team but I don't believe that – the people on the bench could play perfectly. When I play finals my first thought is the guys on the bench.

"We take every game seriously, otherwise it is impossible to win four Carabao Cups in a row."

While City enjoyed the regular taste of success, it was also a familiar feeling of defeat on the big stage for Spurs, whose 13-year trophy drought continues.

They were second best against City and lost a third successive major final after defeats in the 2015 League Cup final and 2019 Champions League final.

Interim boss Ryan Mason played in that 2015 loss for Spurs, but found himself leading his boyhood club out as manager after taking the reins in the wake of Jose Mourinho's sacking on Monday.

And he says another final defeat is not easier to take for his group of players.

"Pain. It hurts. I've been sitting in there as a player, I've played for this football club and lost a final, I know what it's like," said Mason.

"I know that feeling. It's normal that they're hurting. It's normal, because it shows that they care.

"And this group of players care deeply about this football club. I think we saw that today, they gave absolutely everything, 100 per cent commitment. We tried, we tried, it wasn't enough today, that's tough to take.

"City are a great side, an incredible team but I think our group of players gave everything with what they have had to deal with in seven days, the lack of preparation but they gave everything, absolutely everything. That is something to be proud of.

"I think when you lose a cup final, it's disappointing. We're all hurting. I am, the players are and I'm sure the fans are and everyone associated with the football club. It's difficult to take. Obviously it's my job, a coach's job to start giving the players a platform and start preparing, start planning."