Carabao Cup win could help Man City catch Arsenal, Pep says

Pep Guardiola says lifting the Carabao Cup could help Manchester City beat Arsenal for the Premier League title.

City are six points behind Mikel Arteta’s side with 17 games remaining.

Before the league resumes next weekend, they face a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Tuesday.

Guardiola lifted the trophy in February 2018 before winning his first English title later that season.

And he says winning silverware early in the campaign can help in the title race.

“If you want to win the championship that year or whatever, it’s not much, but it helps,” Guardiola said. “It helps, OK, we won a title, we won something.

“It’s not so much about winning the silverware, it’s about being self-aware and OK, we’ve won. We’re capable of doing this. When you win, it helps to win more, more, more.

“Not like a routine, but hey, we did it. One player says ‘if I did it, I can do it again.'”

Goalkeeper James Trafford is set to make his ninth start of the season against Newcastle.

The 23-year-old has been forced to settle for second place behind Gianluigi Donnarumma since arriving from Burnley in the summer.

A lack of playing time could see him miss out on a place in England’s squad for next summer’s World Cup, but Guardiola has hinted his situation will only be reviewed at the end of the season.

“I would like him to stay here for many, many years, because he has (the ability) to play at a club like ours,” Guardiola said.

“But you know, the goalkeeper situation is special. It’s different, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”