'This is respect!' - Pep Guardiola praises incredible Man City record in domestic competitions as they begin FA Cup defence against Huddersfield

City's main objectives this season will be to defend the Premier League title and retain the Champions League but Guardiola pointed to their brilliant track record in the domestic cups ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third round game against Huddersfield. Under the Catalan coach's watch, City have reached six FA Cup semi-finals in seven years, lifting the trophy twice, and won four consecutive Carabao Cups between 2018 and 2021. Last season's final was particularly special as they beat arch rivals Manchester United.

"For Huddersfield we will prepare the game a lot because it's the FA Cup, it deserves it," Guardiola told a press conference. "We have to do what you have to do every game, we can win or lose, but the highness of the consistency, these guys prove it for many years. This is of course respect. We cannot win four Carabao Cups in a row if you do not take every game seriously, it's impossible. No team has done it, four in a row in modern football with incredible rivals, it means we were there all the time. Same with FA Cup, it's really, really important."

Guardiola has previously suggested reducing the number of domestic cup games by getting rid of FA Cup replays and making the League Cup semi-finals one match rather than two legs but he insisted his team fully respect the competition. "You will not find one person in this club and in this locker room that doesn’t love it," he added. "The FA Cup is the FA Cup. Even for me, I was not born in this country, when I was away I know how special the competition is."

Under Guardiola, City have only lost once before the semi-final stage in the FA Cup, when they were knocked out in the fifth round in 2018 by Wigan Athletic, then of League One.

After facing Huddersfield, City play Newcastle away from home on January 13 and then plan to head out to Abu Dhabi for warm-weather training. However, the camp will be cancelled in the event the match with Huddersfield ends in a draw and they are forced to play a replay.