One final at a time for Pep
LEAGUE CUP A victory over Arsenal on Sunday will not signify start of reign for Manchester City boss
LONDON: Pep Guardiola is anxious to play down suggestions that winning his first piece of silverware for Manchester City in Sunday’s League Cup final against Arsenal would herald a period of dominance.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach takes his side to Wembley with the Premier League title virtually in the bag and a place in the Champions League quarterfinals looking certain. But despite City’s dominance this season, Guardiola will be eager to get his hands on a trophy, even if it would have been fourth on the list of his priorities when the campaign began.
City are clear favourites to beat Arsenal but Arsene Wenger’s men have made a habit of cup success in recent years, winning the FA Cup in three of the past four seasons.
“Not even in Barcelona when we won the first title in the cup did I expect to win 14 titles in four years,” said Guardiola, anxious not to over-burden his players. “I’m more pragmatic.
“I think in football it’s a big mistake to think what might happen in the next three years. It’s a big mistake for our heads, our targets, it makes no sense.
“When people asked in the beginning, about winning four titles (this season), I said of course we’ll try, but the big teams have not been able to do that — the big Liverpools, the big Uniteds, the big Arsenals, the big Chelseas.”
Wenger has won the FA Cup a record seven times since he took the helm at Arsenal but has twice been beaten in the final of the League Cup. The French manager was asked at his pre-match press conference what the key was to beating City.
“To first of all have a strong belief that we can do it, be well-organised and take every opportunity to go forward and play our offensive game,” he said.
“One of the big strengths of Man City is De Bruyne of course, because he has become a very complete player,” Wenger said.
He also revealed that David Ospina would play in goal at the expense of Petr Cech, continuing his role as the go-to ‘keeper for cup matches.
the only trophy that has eluded Arsene Wenger in his long reign at Arsenal. The Gunners’ last appearance in the
League Cup final had ended in a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City in 2011 and Wenger will be looking to make amends for the same. Wenger had also got the better of Guardiola in last season’s FA Cup semifinal but City beat Arsenal 3-1 in their most recent outing in the Premier League.