But his debut season in Manchester saw Guardiola failed to collect a major honour in a campaign for the first time in his coaching career, with memories of Arsenal ending their bid for FA Cup glory in a Wembley semi-final set to loom over Sunday’s return to the scene of the crime.
“I don’t know what kind of state [Alex] Iwobi is in, we will know that today [Friday] – but overall we have no injuries”.
“I always say I prefer to play a final having won a game”, said the Spaniard, who won 11 of his 12 Cup finals during spells as manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Welsh global returned to training earlier this week and wasn’t risked against Ostersunds last night but a final decision over his fitness will be made on Saturday to see if he can face City.
“Pep wants to answer the criticism of not winning a trophy in his first season, but if you told City they had to pull out of one competition then it would be this one, even though they’re in the final”.
“We need a strong belief we can do it”.
“For us it’s an opportunity”. We played well, won the game but it was just short of the miracle. We will see how his evolution goes between now and (the League Cup final on) Sunday (Monday, AEDT).
“You have to prepare as though you’re going to play every game”.
Ostersunds FK boss Graham Potter, speaking to BT Sport: “I am very, very proud of the players and the supporters”.
Guardiola added: “Of course we want to win, Arsenal do as well, we will try”.
File image of Petr Cech and David Ospina.
Curtis Edwards, another former English non-league player, shot wide from 30 yards and Ghoddos had a free-kick saved by Ospina as they pushed for an aggregate equaliser.
He acknowledged the threat from players such as Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne but said it was hard to focus on shutting down individuals.
“I’m enjoying being back in the first-team fold here. We’ll see how his evolution goes from now until Sunday, I don’t rule him out yet, it depends how well he improves”. Maybe as well to stop the providers to feed him.
Bravo, Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Kompany, Laporte, Zinchenko, Danilo, Toure, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne, D Silva, B Silva, Foden, Diaz, Aguero.
Walker, who believes he has become wiser at City, previously lost at the League Cup final as Tottenham were beaten by Chelsea in 2015 and the defender is keen to avoid a repeat.
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