Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 6y

Pep Guardiola to play strong side against Bristol City in Carabao Cup

MANCHESTER -- Manchester City will field another strong lineup Carabao Cup semifinal with Championship side Bristol City with Pep Guardiola determined to win his first trophy for the club.

Despite a tiring schedule over Christmas, Guardiola picked an experienced team on Saturday for the FA Cup third round victory over Burnley to keep them in the hunt for four trophies.

City also have a difficult trip to Anfield in the Premier League next Sunday to face a Liverpool side that will have had eight days' rest.

However, Guardiola says they cannot afford to take Bristol City lightly, particularly as they have already beaten four Premier League sides so far, including Manchester United in the last round.

"We are going to try to win the game, take the best result as possible, then go to Bristol City away with the best result, that's the only way I know," Guardiola told a news conference.

"Some players who didn't play [against Burnley] will play, but it is a semifinal and because Bristol have beaten three or four teams in the Premier League.

"I saw some minutes they played -- not too much because I didn't have time -- but my guys saw them and told me to be careful and it's a semifinal of the cup."

Guardiola is still waiting for a trophy at the Etihad Stadium after finishing his debut season without silverware for the first time in his career.

City are 15 points clear at the top of the table and into the round of 16 of the Champions League but Guardiola says they need to win trophies to build confidence and a winning mentality.

"Winning helps to win more, and if we are there [at the final] we are going to go to London to play the final and it's important," he said. "To become a big club like the teams I've faced, or United, or Liverpool with their history, you have to win.

"So it nice to have good performances but you have to lift the titles and it's important and we're going to try but nobody can take away what we've done so far.

"The pleasure we've had so far over three or fourth months belongs to us. The fans can enjoy the game, I think it's a big mistake just to be happy if you win.

"I told them to enjoy the big moments, because that is so complicated it will maybe not happen again. After then I must give value to what we have done -- we have to lift titles in the future, without them it's not enough."

Guardiola said he was pleased to see Leroy Sane back on the scoresheet in the 4-1 victory over Burnley at the weekend.

The winger has been one of several stand-out City performers this season but the strike was the 21-year-old's first since October, and Guardiola feels he still has much to do to reach his full potential.

He said: "I said to him many times, I don't have doubts how important he is for us, to make movements, runs in behind. It is not easy to live with him.

"But he has still a lot - a lot - of things to improve. In the simple things, he still has mistakes, big mistakes.

"He has a lot of things to improve but he is able to deal with that challenge.

"He has a special talent. Of course it was important to score another goal. We need his goals, but also his assists, crosses, how he defends backwards.

"He made a lot of very good things but at 21, 22 years old - I met only one player in my life at that age who knew absolutely everything and he could do absolutely everything. The other guys have many, many things to improve, and Leroy especially.''

Press Association contributed to this report.

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