Guardiola has been speaking ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final between the two sides
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City(Image: Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has sarcastically claimed he 'didn't sleep' thinking about how he can outfox Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe in Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at St James' Park.
Newcastle continue their defence of the trophy they won last season against the Cityzens with Howe describing Guardiola's side as the hardest team in the country to face over a two-legged semi-final.
"I think the natural preference is for the home game to be the second leg because you have a clear understanding of what you need to do," Howe said during his press conference on Monday morning.
"But we need to use the home crowd to our advantage in the first game and to to give everything to impose ourselves on them. We really enjoy the two-legged format last year, even the gap between games is quite good because you can detach yourself.
"I think Manchester City are the hardest team to play over two legs in the country. Pep, I'm sure, tactically will have something ready for us and we'll have to be at our best to get through.
"They're a very difficult team to prepare for anyway because they can change a lot with the tactical set-up they have. They're a difficult team to know how to plan for to play against.
"But the priority for us is always ourselves, what we do and how we can hurt them. It's important in our home game we're ourselves and give the best account of ourselves."
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Guardiola was asked about Howe suggesting he would have something tactically up his sleeve but the City boss was in no mood to offer a serious response.
"I didn't sleep tonight thinking how my genius can create something for Eddie Howe," Guardiola said.
"I said it ten years ago when we won Carabao Cups I would love the semi-final to be one game.
"Since Eddie Howe took over, look how many games won in the last minutes. The pride is there, the crowd pushes. It has always been like that in this stadium but it is a semi-final and if we have to play against Arsenal or Chelsea it would be as difficult. I would say it should not be different."
The two teams have already done battle once at St James' Park this season, with Harvey Barnes scoring twice in a 2-1 win for Newcastle in the Premier League.
The second leg of the semi-final will take place at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, February 4, with the winner moving through to the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, March 22, to face either Arsenal or Chelsea.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image