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Man City will not sacrifice League Cup for title race —Guardiola

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Holders Manchester City will take Tuesday ’ s League Cup quarter – final with Leicester City seriously , says manager Pep Guardiola , even though they are in a tight duel with Liverpool for the Premier League title .
Guardiola — whose Premier League champions trail Liverpool by a point — says it is only by winning trophies the club can get better , even if the League Cup is viewed as the third most important domestic trophy in English football .

The 47 -year – old Spaniard concedes Liverpool may benefit from no longer being involved in the League Cup — their next match is against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday — and if City progress they will face a two – legged semi -final in January .

“ We could say yes , ” said Guardiola , answering a question at his press conference over whether Liverpool had an advantage in having a lighter fixture list .
“ But I ’ d prefer to be in the League Cup than not .

“ I cannot imagine going into a game thinking , ‘ Oh , it will be better to lose because then we ’ ll have more time to rest ’ . I have never thought in that way .

“ That is the only way a club like Manchester City — who 10 years ago were not in this position — can grow up , and get better and better . And that ’ s what we have to do . ”

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Guardiola said that those players who had played on Saturday in the 3 -1 win over Everton would probably have to shoulder the responsibility of backing up against Leicester due to a growing injury list .

Belgian star Kevin de Bruyne returned against Everton and should play again whilst record goalscorer Argentinian Sergio Aguero could start after a four week absence through injury .

“ We don’ t have many players , ” said Guardiola .

“ We have a lot of injured players. Some players that played Saturday and in the last games have to play .

“ But it is a chance to reach a semi – final and since I ’ ve been here my teams have never dropped one game , not even a friendly game .

“ It is a competition , it must be respected , like we did it last season . We are going to try and win the game . ”

( AFP )

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