Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear he will not expend too much energy on the EFL Cup this season, despite his history of success in the competition.
City advanced to the last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Championship side Watford, thanks to first-half goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes.
Guardiola, who has won the EFL Cup four times—equaling Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson—suggested his focus will be on other competitions, given the demands of City’s schedule.
Only Doku and Kyle Walker retained their starting places after a grueling 2-2 Premier League draw with Arsenal just 50 hours prior.
With a quick turnaround to a league game against Newcastle on Saturday, Guardiola admitted he would prioritize player fitness, stating, “The next round, I announce you, I play the second team. We are not going to waste energy, for sure.”
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Despite his comments, Guardiola emphasized that City never intentionally throw away competitions. However, with the Premier League and Champions League fixtures in mind, he made it clear that those tournaments take precedence this season.
