Pep promises City won’t slack off in cup clash against Leicester

Holders Manchester City will take tonight’s League Cup quarterfinal with Leicester City seriously, Pep Guardiola has promised, even though they are in a tight duel with Liverpool for the Premier League title.

City trail Liverpool by a point and while some coaches would be willing to rest a few players in a cup, Guardiola said it is only by winning trophies the club can get better, even if the League Cup is viewed as the third most important domestic trophy in English football.

The 47-year-old Spaniard concedes Liverpool may benefit from no longer being involved in the League Cup — their next match is against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday — and if City progress they will face a two-legged semifinal in January.

“We could say yes,” said Guardiola, answering whether Liverpool had an advantage in having a lighter fixture list.

“But I’d prefer to be in the League Cup than not.

“I cannot imagine going into a game thinking, ‘Oh, it will be better to lose because then we’ll have more time to rest’. I have never thought in that way.

“That is the only way a club like Manchester City — who 10 years ago were not in this position — can grow up, and get better and better. And that’s what we have to do.”

Guardiola will probably have the services of Belgian star

Kevin de Bruyne, who returned in the 3-1 win over Everton at the weekend, and record goalscorer Argentinian Sergio Aguero, who could start after a four week absence through injury.