BIRMINGHAM, England -- Pep Guardiola says Saturday's 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion justified his decision to rest players in the EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United in midweek.
Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho were among those rested in the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford with Guardiola deciding to rotate his squad as City have seven games in 21 days.
The City boss has said that the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup are more of a priority.
And his decision was rewarded with his key players coming back in style to end City's six-game winless streak with an emphatic win at the Hawthorns.
"Yes [it was right] because we won. The trade-off is always alright when you win, you are not right when you don't win," he told a news conference.
"We had to make a decision. We thought about how important was the game [against West Brom] and the game [against Barcelona] on Tuesday and of course Middlesbrough and how was the situation with the injured players, so many players, especially the full-backs.
"We decided [to rotate]. Playing United at Old Trafford with that team don't give you the security or awareness to win.
"We took a decision and the manager does that and sometimes it goes well and sometimes not."
Aguero and Gundogan were at their best -- both scoring twice as City tore apart West Brom. Kevin De Bruyne also came on a second-half substitute, after shaking off a knock, and all three will be ready for the potentially crucial Champions League clash with Barca at the Etihad.
However, Claudio Bravo, who kept just his second clean sheet in the Premier League since moving to City in the summer, is suspended after being sent off in the 4-0 defeat at the Camp Nou.
Willy Caballero will deputise, and Guardiola says the Argentine goalkeeper is prepared to face the daunting attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
"He is ready, he has already played this season and the last game at Old Trafford he played really good and made one or two saves," the City boss said.
"I have a lot of confidence in him that he will make a good performance. He has to be ready because he is going to face the best.
"There are a lot of strikers but some of the best strikers in the world are in the same team in Barcelona. But I have a lot of confidence about his quality."