MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 15:43:19| >> :60:692:692:

Pep Guardiola hopes EFL Cup is catalyst for more success

Pep Guardiola hopes EFL Cup is catalyst for more success
© Reuters
The manager has his eye on lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants his side to use their Carabao Cup victory to spur them on to Premier League and Champions League glory.

City won the League Cup for a fourth successive year and joint record eighth time in total with a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday, which came courtesy of Aymeric Laporte's late header.

Guardiola's side do not get much time to bask in their latest glory, though, as they meet Paris St Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, while Manchester United's draw with Leeds on Sunday moved them closer to another league title.

"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.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur – Carabao Cup Final – Wembley Stadium
There was a familiar feeling of disappointment for Tottenham's players (Adam Davy/PA)

"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."

ID:444845: cacheID:444845:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8596:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on January 10, 2021
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola "so delighted" to win EFL Cup
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
14-28
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!