“More important than United” – Pep Guardiola focused on Southampton tie ahead of testing Premier League run

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is not getting carried away by the multitude of challenges his side are set to encounter over the remainder of the season.

The Premier League champions visit Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday amidst an encouraging spell of form since the turn of the year.

Since the return of club football after the Qatar World Cup, the Blues have closed the gap to league leaders Arsenal to five points by taking seven points out of a possible nine from games against Leeds, Everton and Chelsea.

That Carabao Cup feeling! 😁💙 @ManCity pic.twitter.com/Pu2ZrDrl4B

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 10, 2023

Guardiola’s men faced Chelsea, whom they saw off in the Carabao Cup third round earlier this season, twice in quick succession last week and registered back-to-back wins against Graham Potter’s struggling side.

Still in the running to claim a third successive league title, Manchester City are again fighting on all fronts this term as they search for domestic cup glory whilst also pursuing a maiden Champions League title.

“We are in four competitions, but I am not saying we are going to win all competitions,” Guardiola said ahead of a visit to St. Mary’s on Wednesday, as quoted by Manchester City’s official website.

“Every season, we fight as far as possible in all competitions – otherwise we would not have won four Carabao Cups in five years.”

City’s testing cup run this season will next see them host Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup fourth-round.

Despite the array of talent his side possess across the pitch, Guardiola is aware of the enormity of task at hand if City are to complete an unprecedented quadruple of title wins at the end of the season.

The 51-year-old added: “We are still in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup with difficult draws. From day one, I said we are going to try to win all of them (titles), knowing that it’s almost impossible to win all four competitions.

“No one in the whole history has done it. I do not have experience of a winter World Cup and I cannot handle it (the impact). I handle it by the body language of the players and how they perform on the pitch.

“Day by day, they play the game and the next one. I am concerned about how they play the last game, how the guys who didn’t play train the day after, how the body language is there.”

Kalvin Phillips is 'ready' to make his full #ManCity debut vs Southampton, confirms Pep Guardiola.https://t.co/CUWEDTLxqV

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 10, 2023

City travel across town to face Manchester United on Saturday before meetings with Tottenham, Wolves and Arsenal before the end of the month.

“These kinds of things are always important for me. I am sorry, but now it (the Carabao Cup) is more important than (Manchester) United – much, much more important,” Guardiola said.

“We want to reach the semi-final in one competition. (There are) a lot of Premier League games to play and the other competitions are the same.

“It’s about creating a good group of players that will push each other to win every single game. When we have that mindset, we will arrive at the end of the season with the big chances to fight for the titles.”