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Pep Guardiola delighted with his Manchester City side for reaching Wembley

Guardiola says he is refusing to prioritise the Champions League ove the FA Cup

Alan O'Brien
Riverside Stadium
Saturday 11 March 2017 18:28 GMT
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Guardiola has promised City fans he does not discriminate between competitions
Guardiola has promised City fans he does not discriminate between competitions

Pep Guardiola hailed the achievement of reaching Wembley and then promised his side would never overlook the FA Cup.

City stormed to a two-goal win at Middlesbrough yesterday to set up a semi-final appearance in the capital next month.

Guardiola again resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes despite a Champions League return tie with Monaco looming.

“We don’t discriminate between competitions,” he said. “From the beginning, we have shown to the people that we want to travel to London to Wembley to play in the semi-final because how we started was top.

“Yes, I’m excited to be at Wembley, a lot, I have good memories of being at Wembley, at the old and the new one. Yes, of course, and to live that experience. Normally that just happens in the final, but here it is in the semi-final too and of course we are so happy to be there, so happy.

“No matter the competition, you have to win, no regrets.

“We deserve it by far because four games all away, three Premier League teams and one of the best in the Championship, Huddersfield, we have faced and we have beaten them.

“I learned at the academy in Barcelona when I was 12 that it’s not acceptable to lose. To understand that, you don’t distinguish between friendly and competitive games. You have to play to win - it’s the only way you can improve as a club, improve the mentality and that is what I want to try and give the club while I’m here.

“When you’re at a big club, you have to win. This club does not have a long history of winning things, they made the first step, but having taken that step, it is not acceptable to lose.”

David Silva opened the scoring

David Silva struck for City after just three minutes and in a one-sided second-half Sergio Aguero added a second to send City through.

“I take a lot of positives,” said Aitor Karaka. “We have recovered our confidence. We conceded the goal at the beginning of the game but the reaction was good.

“We lost two-nil but I cannot be prouder of them. I told them after the game. We don't have the individuals other teams have but we have to work hard. When we have it is good. We will fight to the end.”

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