Pep warns he will not “waste energy” on the Carabao Cup

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola announced that he and his players will not “waste energy” on Carabao Cup fixtures, expressing his desire to focus on competitions that he perceives as more important

Guardiola’s comments came after City’s narrow 2-1 win over Watford in the third round of the Carabao Cup last night, in which first half goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes (his first for the club) were enough to seal passage to the fourth round draw.

What a first Man City goal for MATHEUS NUNES! pic.twitter.com/9AT9uG40ME

— Man City Kippax🏆 (@ManKippax) September 24, 2024

With the game scheduled just 50 hours after city’s last gasp draw at home to a 10 man Arsenal, Guardiola made nine changes to his starting XI, with only Doku and Walker keeping their places, while youngsters James McAtee, Nico O’Reilly and 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite made the their first starts of the season.

A proud night for Kaden Braithwaite 🩵

He becomes our third-youngest full-debutant, aged 16 years and 229 days 💫 pic.twitter.com/DAGmoaSs0m

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 24, 2024

Speaking after the game, Guardiola stated: “Next round, I announce (to) you, we play the second team. We are not going to waste energy for sure.”

However, taking a closer look at their schedule, it becomes easier to sympathize with Guardiola. With a big league game away to Newcastle on Sunday, and a midweek Champions League game against Slovan Bratislava three days later, the eternally observant Guardiola has to rotate his side out of necessity, especially during the recent fallout caused by Rodri’s injury.

🔵⚠️ Pep Guardiola on Rodri's injury: "One doctor said it's a big, big injury... the other said not as much, so we'll see".

"Now it's important to support him. Safe recovery, I would say not even a speedy recovery. Safe recovery for his future, for his career". pic.twitter.com/pVCftO29Vf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 25, 2024

“Today for James (McAtee), Matheus, Jack (Grealish) and Phil (Foden), who didn’t play (against Arsenal), and the young lad (Braithwaite), it’s perfect. That’s why it is a good competition, otherwise we wouldn’t win four in a row.”

Having lifted the trophy four separate times, Guardiola is on par with managerial legends brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson as the competition's most successful coach, as each hold four victories. However, Guardiola seems to have no obvious desire to propel himself into a league of his own.

🗣️ "We are not going to waste energy for this competition".

A big statement from Pep on the Carabao Cup.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/S0Lr1TUxsv

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 25, 2024

Asked about why he would play his second team, Guardiola replied: “We play to go through, we never throw a competition. But we played 50 hours ago. I am not going to take a risk with the premier League and Champions League in this competition.”

While Guardiola’s comments are understandable and easy to empathize with, it only reinforces the stigma around the Carabao Cup that it is not a desirable competition.

If certain top teams play a second string side full of inexperienced talent, many cease to become a realistic challenger, and while guardiola insists that his side never throw a competition, his b-team will likely lose if they play a top half Premier League side in the next couple of rounds.

To read more about the Carabao Cup and the reason's many sides want to win it, click here.