Pep’s boys can be real four-ce

sad. I take the cups seriously. Against Rotherham (in the FA Cup) we changed nine but the nine were a good selection.

“It was perfect for Kevin (De Bruyne), Ilkay (Gundogan), Nico (Otamendi) and Kyle (Walker).”

Guardiola admitted, though, that the situation would become impossible if City had 10 players struck down by injuries.

“Of course you need a big squad,” the Spaniard said. “Without quality you can’t even win one trophy. Today, not just in England, fighting for the title with 12 or 13 players is impossible.” Meanwhile, Guardiola has revealed that the club have opened contract extension talks with captain Vincent Kompany.

The big Belgian central defender has spent 11 years at the Etihad since joining from Hamburg but is out of contract this summer and Guardiola would like the 32-year-old to sign a new deal.

It will all boil down to his long-term fitness but the City boss said: “He’s our captain, 11 years here. We saw his huge personality (in last week’s 2-1 win over Liverpool). The only problem with Vincent is his injury problems. He’s one of the best I’ve seen.”

CITY have denied a claim that Guardiola fines his players £20,000 for being late and £18,000 for giving unauthorised interviews less than 48 hours before a game.

The statement was made during an interview between defender Aymeric Laporte and a French journalist. Laporte didn’t disagree but club officials insist the comments are not true.