WE’RE NOT Blown away in the title race and banned from Europe but City are out to show they are still a domestic cup-winning machine

GABRIEL JESUS wants Manchester City to put down a marker by winning the Carabao Cup tomorrow.

Jesus says landing the trophy for a third year running will remind their closest rivals that Pep Guardiola's men are still a force to be reckoned with.

The defending champions have been blown away by Liverpool in a one-horse title race this season, with Guardiola admitting defeat before Christmas.

But City are the kings of the domestic cup competitions, proving the point with their historic treble last season, when they added the Carabao Cup and FA

Cup to the Premier League, as well as throwing in the Community Shield measure.

Guardiola's men can add to the lustre with a third successive League Cup triumph at Wembley tomorrow.

Having beaten Leicester in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League in the past week, City go into the clash with Aston Villa brimming with confidence. Jesus for good knows how vital it is to keep the momentum going and claim the first piece of silverware available.

The Brazilian said: “We have to focus on the final on Sunday and play to win.

“The challenge is coming and it's the biggest of the season. Sunday is important. It's been a big week because we played Leicester away, a team with a lot of quality, and went seven points in front of them and then we won at Real Madrid.

“We've had two very good games – and now it's a final. It's important to win the first title of the season.”

Jesus was one of City's stand-out performers in the Bernabeu on Wednesday with one of his finest displays since joining the club from Palmeiras for £32million in 2017.

He was deployed in an unfamiliar left-wing position but scored the crucial equaliser to help inspire City's memorable fightback in a 2-1 win.

Jesus, 22, says that he loves playing wherever Guardiola asks him to. He said: “When I started to play at

Palmeiras I was a winger, in the first team.

After a year I started to play as the second striker and after that as the first striker, so I can play there.

“I can play all four front positions – both wings and both striker positions. I enjoy the work. It doesn't matter if I have to run back to help my team-mates – I am young! I have the power and energy to do this.

“I enjoy the position a lot because I can go back and help the full-backs. I am very comfortable there but we have a lot of quality players.”

City are favourites to brush aside relegation-threatened Villa, who have won just two of their past nine games in all competitions.

But Guardiola is certain that Villa will rise to the occasion.

He said: “They are well organised and have a goalkeeper with experience, fast players up front and central defenders with good headers.

“We will prepare tactically and know we have an incredible challenge to win the next title.”

The coming challenge is biggest of the season