CANARIES’ RAY OF LEIT KEPT SAFE FOR DERBY
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s PEP GUARDIOLA says he now feels English enough to understand what an FA Cup banana skin is.
The Manchester City boss takes his all-conquering side to Wigan in the cup on Monday, and even though they have lost just twice all season, the Spaniard is concerned about the chance of a major upset.
“In Spain there are always two games in the cup, but here I learned anything can happen,” he explained.
“When you play at home it’s one issue but when you play away in tough conditions in January and February . . and teams like Wigan showed in the games against Bournemouth that anything can happen.
“Of course I am concerned because I saw the game against Bournemouth. They are one of THIS is the fifth meeting between these two sides in the FA Cup, with Wigan winning each of the last two, including an FA Cup Final victory thanks to Ben Watson’s goal in 2013. In fact, the Latics have only lost one of their 10 FA Cup matches against top-flight opposition (W7 D2), progressing past Premier League sides in rounds three and four this season. 2017/18: Third round: Bournemouth (a) – 2-2; Third round replay: Bournemouth (h) – 3-0 Fourth round: West Ham (h) - 2-0 W 2013/14: Fourth Round: Crystal Palace (h) – 2-1; Sixth round: Manchester City (a) – 2-1 2012/13: Quarter-Final: Everton (a) – 3-0 Final: Manchester City (Wembley) – 1-0 (above, Ben Watson heads home the goal that won the FA Cup for Wigan and (left) he lifts the trophy with thenboss Roberto Martinez. Below: Will Grigg scores to make it 2-0 to Wigan during the fourth round victory over West Ham. the teams I like to watch the most in the Premier League and Wigan were able to beat them.
“They’re going to start so, so, so, so hard as they’re so intense, so aggressive without the ball and we have to be ready. We will take it seriously.”
Guardiola (left) has studied the competition in depth and added: “I think in the FA Cup there are a lot of surprises, not just this season or previous seasons, all throughout history you always have these kind of situation happen.”
City play Arsenal at Wembley on February 25 in the Carabao Cup final and Guardiola added: “It would be good for my players not to think too much of the final, they think about the ‘final’ on Monday.
“It’s a chance to go to the quarter-finals and we are going to prepare as much as we can.” NORWICH have wrapped marathon-man Moritz Leitner in cotton wool before tomorrow’s East Anglian derby with Ipswich.
The German midfielder (above) stunned the Canaries’ coaches with his performance in the 1-1 draw at Derby last week, his first start since signing on loan from Augsburg in January.
Boss Daniel Farke (below) said: “Moritz did more running in that game than any Norwich player has ever done before.
“It was a new club record for the distance covered. “So we have tried to be careful with him in training this week, especially considering it was his first 90-minute game for several months.
“He has just done a special individual programme for the last few days, to make sure he is available. We have had to calm him down, but he should be OK.”
Norwich are unbeaten in their last nine against Ipswich, but Farke said: “There are no favourites in derbies. Our recent history against them doesn’t matter.
“If Ipswich had won the last game, they would still desperately want to win this one too.
“So it’s going to be close. It’s dangerous to try to predict these games because there’s so much at stake for both sides. That’s why they are special. “
Mick McCarthy says it is time for Ipswich fans to finally have something to cheer against Norwich.
The Tractor Boys have not beaten their neighbours since 2009, and have not won at Carrow Road for 12 years.
The Town boss (below) said: “We have not come out on top in a few years, so it would be great to end that on Sunday.
“It’s an exciting game. There is an element of something different about derbies. We’re all looking forward to it.”