One eye on Paris while at Wembley
PEP GUARDIOLA admits Manchester City’s date with destiny in the Champions League is casting a shadow over their Carabao Cup final four-timer.
City play Tottenham in tomorrow’s Wembley showpiece as they attempt to lift a fourth straight League Cup trophy.
But with Paris Saint-Germain next up in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, even the showdown in north London is not the most important game of the week for Guardiola’s men.
“It’s a final and once we are there, everyone wants to win it – and we are not an exception,” said Guardiola.
“But the Champions League is close and the Premier League is not over.
“They are more important and we have an eye on them.”
City would normally have wrapped up the Carabao Cup earlier in the season but the postponement of the final to April has created the clash of priorities.
Guardiola said: “In January it’s usually over but now we play in a decisive part of season.
“Three days before a dream. That’s why it’s a contradiction but we have one eye on Champions League and one eye on Crystal Palace next Saturday.
“It’s nice but PSG and Palace are there. We’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
Guardiola said he is wary of a Spurs side full of quality, who could need the Carabao Cup as a ticket to next season’s Europa League.
But he could also welcome back City’s midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne for tomorrow’s showpiece after the midfielder missed the trip to Aston Villa with an ankle injury.