Pep Guardiola warned that this Manchester City team do not deserve mass plaudits yet as he vowed to take his swashbucklers to another level.
City are heading to a Wembley final for the first time under Guardiola after Tuesday night’s 3-2 Carabao Cup victory against a spirited Bristol City.
Guardiola suggested lifting next month’s crown could just be the start as the Catalan bids to create a lasting legacy.
Pep Guardiola is ready to take Manchester City to the next level after reaching his first final
‘The club is trying to reach another level that wasn’t in the past with (Roberto) Mancini, with (Manuel) Pellegrini, and we try to keep going in that level,’ Guardiola said.
‘To grow up you need (more) titles. We are going to try in February and in the Premier League. We will be judged and that depends on the titles we are able to win.
‘But nobody can deny how happy we were in the last six or seven months. We won a lot of games and that belongs to us.’
City’s medical staff will check on the substituted Kyle Walker for a suspected broken nose. Despite missing out on Alexis Sanchez, Guardiola could not hide his delight at a ‘terrific’ week after Kevin De Bruyne became the latest to pen a lucrative new deal.
‘You cannot imagine how good,’ he added. ‘David Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho and De Bruyne – this is massive news for us and it’s a highlight for us. These four players so important for us.’
Lee Johnson lauded his Bristol City players and heads into a run of Championship fixtures gunning for promotion.
‘I’m very proud. Not just of the team but the club,’ Johnson said. ‘Unfortunately it came to an end. The fact is it’s taken them two injury-time goals in both legs to beat us.
‘We continued to show our spirit. The players will learn an awful lot. I hope City go on and win the tournament. I believe in my team. I hope this run impacts on our league form in a positive way.’