Pep’s up FOUR it
Jose says sorry to Henrikh
PEP Guardiola has targeted the Carabao Cup as the springboard for City’s potentially recordbreaking season.
The Blues are still on course for an unprecedented quadruple after their FA Cup third round win against Burnley on Saturday.
The Premier League leaders face Bristol City tomorrow in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final – with Guardiola planning on naming another strong team in his bid to secure a first piece of silverware as City manager.
“It’s so important,” he said. “Winning helps to win more.
“To become a big club like the teams I’ve faced, or United, or Liverpool with their history, you have to win.
“So it is nice to have good performances, but you have to lift the titles and it’s important and we’re going to try.”
Guardiola named seven of his strongest XI against Burnley – with Sergio Aguero inspiring a 4-1 win. Despite Guardiola’s complaints about City’s hectic schedule over Christmas, he plans to name a side packed with stars again to face Championship side Bristol City, who stunned United in the quarter-final.
“We are going to try to beat Bristol, to win the game, take the best result as possible, then go to Bristol away with the best result, that’s the only way I know,” said the City manager. “The important thing is to be involved in all competitions and we are there as well as other teams, because Chelsea are in the same position, they’re in them all.
“We have to be involved in everything. From my experience in Barcelona when we won the triple, in January you cannot talk about it, it’s unrealistic.
“In sport, the most important thing is what’s next.
“Visualise, focus what’s next. If you look far away, big mistake.”
PEP Guardiola has dismissed the idea that City could win the Quadruple.
But one of his players says that the chance of winning all four trophies this season to make football history is a hot topic of conversation in the Blues dressing room.
Aleks Zinchenko stepped in at leftback as City blew away Burnley in the FA Cup third round to remain in contention on all fronts.
And, while the young Ukrainian made no bold claims about what City WILL achieve, he made it plain the players openly discuss the aim of going one better than United’s unique Treble in 1999.
“We think about this every single day and every training session – we can win everything, and that’s why we are here,” said Zinchenko.
The 21-year-old international has forced his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans this season after a loan move to PSV Eindhoven did not go as well as all parties had hoped.
Zinchenko’s attitude has especially impressed Guardiola, who took careful note of what the Ukrainian did when the squad arrived back from Huddersfield on a freezing Sunday night in December.
The youngster had been on the subs’ bench in Yorkshire, but there was no resting on his laurels at displacing Yaya Toure from the matchday squad.
He got off the coach at 8pm and as the other players headed off into the night, he went to the gym to put in a couple of extra hours.
“I have to be professional and the trainer told me I had to be ready for my chance,” he said when asked about the extra work, which made a big impression on the workaholic Guardiola.
“I don’t want to be all about that moment, when I didn’t play. I had to be ready and keep my balance. I did special exercises, some bicycle work and stuff for chest, hands and legs.”
Last season Zinchenko played just 17 times for PSV, and former Ajax coach Aad De Mos criticised City’s decision to send him there on loan after his £1.8m move from Russian club Ufa.
But Zinchenko said that his low-key start to life as a City player was more about adapting – and he plumped to stay and fight for a firstteam place this season.
Asked if he thought PSV had been a bad move, he said: “I don’t think so. It was very good experience for me, and is an amazing place for young players – the stadium, the training ground, the people and the fans – and the football was good. For me it was a good time.”