"I’m sure League One teams are looking and laughing a little bit at the result, but what we have now is an experience that we felt it."
Stuart James Print Sports Editor
05:48, 17 Jan 2026
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EXETER City make their return to action for the first time since last week’s unwanted record-breaking 10-1 defeat at Manchester City with manager Gary Caldwell sure it hasn’t affected form, morale or confidence at St James Park.
Such a beating would be the better of lesser teams, but Caldwell is keen his players learn lessons from that chastening afternoon, where the relentless and ruthless Citizens showed just what could be done by perfecting the basics of the game.
The Blue City were crazily good on the day, punishing any mistake the Grecians made, whilst carrying out the non-negotiables Pep Guardiola demands of his team, regardless of his starting XI. It was a harsh lesson indeed at the Etihad, but one Caldwell feels will hold his players in good stead when they return to the bread and butter of league football against Stevenage today.
“I think we needed a break,” said Caldwell, who gave his players a few days off after Exeter ’s Cup adventure ended in the Manchester drizzle. “I think the break was good and the players were all together.
Reece Cole of Exeter City looks dejected after conceding during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on 10 January 2026 in Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
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Reece Cole of Exeter City looks dejected after conceding during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on 10 January 2026 in Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
“A lot of the families were there and the plays were with families and together, which I always think when you lose a game like that or a big game, being together is good where you can go through that pain and suffering together. And I think that builds relationships and builds team spirit and strength within the group.
“They had that weekend together in Manchester and then when we came back Wednesday, we’ve trained really well. The players are ready to go and get that out of their system.
“I said we have to use this result. We have to use the fact that I’m sure League One teams are looking and laughing a little bit at the result, but what we have now is an experience that we felt it. We know what it felt like to play against the very best. And we know if we take some of those behaviours that we’ve learned and some of the lessons that we have learned into the remaining League One games, then we can win a lot of football matches and still have a really successful season for the club.”
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Manchester City's Rico Lewis scoring his sides tenth goal during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday January 10, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. (Image: PA)
While the result will be forever etched into the annuls of Grecian history, Caldwell was content that it came against the best version of Pep’s City. There was no rotation, or weakened team and even at 6-0, there were no run-outs for young Academy prospects, with young centre half Max Alleyne and £65 million signing Antoine Semenyo substituted off for Portuguese international Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku, arguably the most in-form winger in the Premier League right now.
“We didn’t get the half Man City experience, we got the full experience,” Caldwell added. “We got a full team and we now know what the very best do and what elite football looks like and I think that can be a huge learning experience for us that can only make us better.
“The staff went in to see Pep after the game and he was incredible, in how welcoming he was. We had a drink and we spoke to him and again, the insight - to get that sort of insight is an amazing experience for me, for the staff and all he spoke about was running and competing. He didn’t speak about how he coaches the team, how he rotates players, the style of football he plays, he spoke about running and getting people to fight and it was great to hear because we’ve been speaking about it for years at this club. To hear it from one of the very best was really good to hear.
“We have to pick up those little nuggets, learn those little lessons and take it forward and try and help Exeter be better now and in the remaining games this season.
“I gave him a nice bottle of Scottish whisky, but he said he doesn’t drink whisky. I said: ‘you might if you start losing 10-1!’ He saw the joke and he had lovely red wine for us.”
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Gary Caldwell, Manager of Exeter City on the pitch after the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on January 10, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
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Next up is Stevenage, though, and while Exeter conceded ten last week, they actually have the second best defensive record in League One with 23 goals conceded. Stevenage have the best with 20, but while they have only scored two more goals than City this season, they sit eighth and are seven points better off than the Grecians.
“They are a team that is very well organised, they have a clear identity in how they want to play the game and it’s very difficult to play against - and they have been a very good League One team for a number of years now,” Caldwell said. “The manager I know well, I signed the manager when I was at Wigan (Alex Revell) on loan, so it’s showing my age, or it’s shown how long I’ve been in management now that the players that I signed, some of them are becoming managers!
“He’s done an amazing job, he’s had two spells there, done an amazing job, but we always know against Stevenage it’s a really difficult game.”