Analysis
Manchester United vs Manchester City: More semi-final success for Pep Guardiola?
Watch Manchester United vs Manchester City live on Sky Sports Football on Tuesday evening; Kick-off 8pm
Tuesday 7 January 2020 19:58, UK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will be hoping for yet more semi-final success when his side face rivals Manchester United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup last-four clash at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports.
Live EFL Cup
Guardiola has won his last five domestic semi-final matches with Manchester City since losing 2-1 to Arsenal in the 2016/17 FA Cup semi-final. Four of those wins were in the League Cup, winning both legs against Bristol City in 2017/18 and Burton Albion in 2018/19 on their way to lifting the trophy.
- Ole: Next 36 hours critical for depleted United
- Pep expects more of the same from United
- Find out more about Sky Sports
However, if they are to make it a hat-trick of Carabao Cup successes they will have to get past their Manchester rivals.
Manchester United beat City in their last meeting in December in the Premier League, stunning the champions with a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, and they will be targeting consecutive victories against City for the first time since April 2010 when the sides meet at Old Trafford.
United, who a looking to complete a sixth League Cup success in their history, will also cling onto the fact they have also eliminated City in each of their last two League Cup ties, knocking them out in the 2009/10 semi-final and the fourth round in 2016/17 - the year they last won the competition.
Pep expects more of the same from United
Guardiola feels he knows what to expect from Manchester United when the two sides face each other on Tuesday evening.
Solskjaer's side produced an exhilarating display of counter-attacking football to beat City in last month's derby at the Etihad Stadium, and Guardiola is expecting a repeat game plan from United.
"It will be quite similar," Guardiola said. "Of course at Old Trafford it will be quite different to here, but they are a team that are built to run. When they can run they are one of the best teams, and not just in England, I would say, because of the pace they have - [Daniel] James, [Mason] Greenwood, [Anthony] Martial, [Marcus] Rashford and [Jesse] Lingard.
"I have the feeling they are going to run, one or two or three times, or as many times as possible, and we have to reduce the mistakes in the build-up. We have to be prepared for that but we have to do our game."
Asked what he learned from that game, Guardiola said: "How fast they are, how they run on the counter-attack, how solid, how aggressive they are.
"We conceded a few counter-attacks in the beginning and in just two or three seconds they were in the box, so they have incredible pace and talent to do that. But in general, the game was good. We created chances and unfortunately, we could not win."
'Pep has set standard for Man Utd to target'
"We've got to aim for performances like that," said Solskjaer of the 2-1 win against City last month. "We know we can do it physically.
"But every game lives its own life. When you get highs like that, I'm sure they will look back and say that's the Man United we want to see but we still want to improve on that.
"I've admired Pep's teams. They've raised the bar so much since Pep came, the standards he's set is something for us to aim for."
Team news
Injury and illness-hit Manchester United face a race against time to be fit for Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City, says Solskjaer.
Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw missed United's goalless draw against Wolves on Saturday through illness, while Solskjaer admitted defender Harry Maguire was "hobbling about" during the match.
Speaking after the game, the United manager hoped "a night or two in their own beds and hopefully some Bovril or paracetamol" would cure any issues - with the injured Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay already long-term absentees.
But Solskjaer admits "some of them are still not ready" and he will now wait until Tuesday morning before deciding his team selection ahead of the first-leg match at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports Football.
"We're going to give them as much time as we can, that's the most honest answer I can give you," Solskjaer said in his pre-match press conference. "If there was a game today I'm not sure they could play at their best. Another 36 hours might be a big change."
Guardiola will have Nicolas Otamendi available again after an injury but the Spaniard has not yet settled on his starting line-up to face United.
"I have an idea," he said. "We have played an incredible amount of games and some players need to rest. "
"I have an idea, but I am not 100 per cent sure who will play tomorrow."
'Big games give you energy'
United failed to register a shot on target at Molineux and a replay will now take up the club's only free midweek this month, but Solskjaer dismissed fears of fatigue.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, the United boss insists "big games give you energy".
"It gives you the urge to go to the next level, above and beyond what you are capable of in your head," he said. "You surprise yourself.
"Big games, you get the rhythm, you don't train in between, there's no way. It's about mental preparation. Hopefully we remember what we did last time and what we must do better."
Stats
- Manchester City have won six of their last nine away games against Manchester United in all competitions (W6 D1 L2), one more than they managed in their previous 39 at Old Trafford.
- Since losing 1-0 to Man Utd in the fourth round in October 2016, Man City are unbeaten in 15 League Cup matches (W11 D4). The last team to have a longer run was Chelsea between 2004 and 2008 (18 games), though they were eliminated on penalties in that run.
- This will be Manchester United's 15th League Cup semi-final - only Liverpool (17) have featured in more in the competition's history.
How to follow Man United vs Man City
Manchester United vs Manchester City is live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event from 7.30pm; Kick-off 8pm. You can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app.
Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
