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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle at St James’ Park (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Guardiola confirmed Manchester City have a "few niggles" that they will assess in training today, but they will "take decision of no risk for the players so they don't get injured again".
- On new signing Antoine Semenyo, who scored on his debut in Saturday's 10-1 win over Exeter: "The impression was that he is a really nice guy. Few actions he showed was what he showed in Bournemouth and hopefully he can continue doing that here.”
- The City boss said he does not "take much" pride in the side scoring 10 goals for the first time since 1987, adding: "We do our job. Best way to respect is do what you do. I wouldn't say it's special. When you look back at our period here, that would not be a thing – that we scored 10 goals against Exeter."
- On length of time since they last won a major trophy: "It's not about winning or not winning trophies, it's about how the team grows up, how the team is better. Last season we didn't deserve to win more than just one trophy [Community Shield], because we didn't play good. The satisfaction to win a trophy when we are not playing good can happen – knock-out stages, being lucky. It's not about that, believe me."
- He continued: "We are here to make the team play better. The satisfaction to make a good performance for ourselves, and our fans to say, 'We had fun during 95 minutes' – that is the point. And the next game, things that we can do better, do it better. That is the target, and all the time it has been like that. And when you are in that process, at the end you fight for the titles and can win it."
- Guardiola insisted he "didn't sleep last night thinking about how my genius can come up with a plan for Eddie Howe", but praised Newcastle for the challenge they present: "Many years since Eddie Howe took over, look how many games they have won in the last minute. The push from the crowd – it's always been like that for a long time. In that stadium it is special. The semi-finals, playing Arsenal and Chelsea, it would be as difficult as Newcastle is.”
- Asked whether having the semi-final over two legs suits his side better, Guardiola said "no", insisting he would prefer one game and added: "I said it from 10 years ago, when we won the Carabao Cup, that I would love the semi-final of the Carabao Cup to be one game."
Follow all of Monday’s Carabao Cup news conferences and the rest of the day’s football news
Listen to full commentary of Newcastle v Manchester City on Tuesday from 20:00 GMT on BBC Sounds
