The Pep Guardiola Newcastle United press conference has now taken place.
The Manchester City boss speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s match.
Am 8pm kick-off at the Etihad.
Tomorrow night seeing the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Newcastle United and Manchester City.
Man City leading 2-0 from the first leg.
Pep Guardiola asked for a fitness and availability update after Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
The Manchester City boss confirming that at least five players are ruled out and one other who is a doubt.
Pep Guardiola revealing that Ruben Dias returned to training on Monday, but that Jeremy Doku still isn’t ready to return, meaning that he will be missing against Newcastle United along with Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Savinho and Mateo Kovacic.
Whether Ruben Dias will be considered for Wednesday, so soon after having just returned to training, is an unknown. Whilst after picking up a knock at Tottenham on Sunday, Pep Guardiola also saying that Rayan Cherki is a doubt and will have to be assessed ahead of facing Newcastle United.
Pep Guardiola on Manchester City’s chances of getting to the final: “We now have the chance to make our fifth final in ten years in the Carabao Cup. I prefer to start 2-0 up but I know perfectly how many times we have played Newcastle and the pride they have. They are a Champions League team and it will be a tough game. We have to be prepared, see how the players have recovered from a tough fame at Spurs and play our game for our people, our fans, try to reach Wembley in March.”
After cruising to a 2-0 lead at the break, Manchester City dramatically collapsed in the second half at Tottenham, lucky to even pick up a point in the end.
This was against Tottenham who had only won four Premier League matches at home in the last 15 months.
Pep Guardiola asked about Man City’s tendency to struggle in the second half in matches this season: “It is the reality. The second half we have dropped off from what we have shown in the first. It is the youngest side that we have had in ten years and maybe we need to live it, stop trying to do what we did in the first halves.”
Pep Guardiola signing Semenyo and Guehi in the January transfer window.
The Manchester City boss asked about this major business and answering sarcastically: “I am a little bit sad and upset because our net spend the last five years, we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be first. I don’t understand how the club don’t spend more money, so I am a little bit grumpy with them. Good luck to the six teams that are in front of us in net spend over the last five years.”