Carabao Cup triumph will give Blues confidence

CITY’S Carabao Cup champions were in good spirits as they arrived back in Manchester on Sunday night.

Pep Guardiola’s players picked up their first major piece of silverware this season as they beat Chelsea 4-3 on penalties at Wembley to retain the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

Following celebrations at the stadium the squad headed back to Manchester on a private jet landing shortly before midnight.

Both Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte were amongst the travelling squad back from London and walked unaided despite coming off injured in the game.

“Being in four competitions is so demanding, so tough, we don’t know where we’re going to arrive,” Guardiola said of their injuries.

“Fernandinho and Laporte will be some weeks out.”

City’s next game is at home to West Ham tomorrow before an away trip to Bournemouth at the weekend and Guardiola spoke about the importance of the cup win in giving them a confidence boost ahead of a busy few weeks.

“Winning this game is good for the enthusiasm for the next games,” Guardiola said.

“But we are going to suffer for the next competitions, especially in the Champions League and Premier League, But the win is important for the mood - ‘OK, guys, we have two titles already in our basket, the Community Shield and today’.

“Winning the game is important for the enthusiasm for the next game, but this competition is demanding a lot.”