LAST UPDATE | 12 Jan 2023

PEP GUARDIOLA admits Manchester City have “no chance” of derby glory against Manchester United if they repeat the dismal display which led to Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of struggling Southampton.

City failed to produce an attempt on target on Wednesday evening at St Mary’s as they slipped to a shock 2-0 quarter-final exit.

The Premier League champions return to action at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime and manager Guardiola knows a major improvement is required.

“Every game is different, different competition,” he said, looking ahead to the United game.

“But of course, if we perform in this way, we will not have a chance. We know exactly what we have to do to play better, so that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

First-half goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo condemned the eight-time League Cup winners to an unexpected loss.

And Guardiola felt his Premier League champions were destined to struggle regardless of the team he picked after leaving Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland on the bench for the start.

He said: “Who knows whether with Kevin and Erling it would have been different? I don’t know it. We tried to do our best and we rotate the team when we played against Chelsea after the Premier League and it’s good.

“I understand how this business works. Always we try to have everybody involved and everybody has to do it but today was not the case.

“I had the feeling [yesterday] it doesn’t matter what line-up I am selecting, we are performing this way. Don’t ask me why. This is my experience. It doesn’t matter the line-up we choose, it would happen because we were not here. And that’s why when this happens, they deserve it.”

Battling underdogs Southampton will face Newcastle in their first League Cup semi-final since going on to finish runners-up in 2017.