MY ACCOUNT
Manchester City watched rivals Manchester United win their first trophy in six years last weekend, but that EFL Cup final success had no impact on Pep Guardiola’s men.
Man United defeated Newcastle United – City’s Premier League opponents on Saturday – 2-0 at Wembley to mark a new high point in Erik ten Hag’s impressive debut season at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s side are still in the FA Cup, like City, and the Europa League, while their form has encouraged talk of an unlikely Premier League title bid.
City will hope to stand in their neighbours’ path, but Guardiola had a short response when asked if Man United’s victory meant anything for his team.
“No, nothing,” he replied.
Guardiola was similarly terse in swatting away questions on comments from Erling Haaland’s agent and LaLiga chief Javier Tebas.
Rafaela Pimenta, Haaland’s representative, had described Real Madrid as a “dreamland” for players, while City critic Tebas has weighed in on the Premier League investigation into the club’s alleged financial breaches.
Guardiola was more interested in discussing Newcastle, who are winless in four in the league and suffered Wembley heartbreak but remain in Champions League contention in fifth place.
Having been battling relegation last season, Guardiola said: “[The progress] is incredible. What happened last season and this season making the step forward, it looks like they came to stay here.
“From what I’ve seen lately, even the final against United, and what they have done all season, it is one of the toughest opponents we have until the end of the season for their quality.
“They can do everything – experience, the threats, the transitions, [at] set-pieces the best team in the league. There are many, many things. That’s why they are there for a long time this season.”
