PEP: TURN UP AT NEWPORT OR MISS OUT ON EUROPE
PEP GUARDIOLA warned his Manchester City players to treat Newport County seriously or miss the Champions League next week. City face League Two Newport in the FA Cup today on a Rodney Parade quagmire and then travel to face Schalke on Wednesday. But Guardiola made it abundantly clear yesterday that the FA Cup — a competition he watched growing up, marvelling at the squelching lower-league pitches — holds significant importance for him. That is in part down to the humiliating 1-0 defeat at Wigan in last year’s fifth round — when Guardiola delivered ered a now-famous team talk lk captured by the Amazon cameras. ‘If they think about the next game, maybe they actually stay here for the next game, they don’t travel to Germany,’ he said. ‘I’m not a sweet guy in n those situations, they have to take it seriously and play the game like it deserves.’ This will be Rodney Parade’s 63rd match since summer and it is also home to rugby and the occasional women’s international. Guardiola said they are within their rights to do ‘whatever they want’ with the pitch. ‘We played in the Premier League against Tottenham, when a day before there was an NFL game, so why shouldn’t it happen for a team in a lower division?’ he said. Riyad Mahrez and Benjamin Mendy are among those with points to prove. Club-record signing Mahrez has not started in the Premier League since December 30 and Guardiola said. ‘He is a guy we are happy with, but unfortunately I am not kind with him.’ Mendy is back from another knee injury, and Guardiola added: ‘We miss him but we cannot cry because he is not there.’