Pep Guardiola agrees with Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho over Carabao Cup criticism

PEP GUARDIOLA has found some common ground with old rival Jose Mourinho – they both agree the Carabao Cup is an energy-sapping competition in an already congested fixture list.

Manchester City Man Utd newsGETTY

Man City boss Guardiola (right) agrees with Man Utd's Mourinho over the Carabao Cup

Mourinho said after Manchester United’s win over Burton Albion in midweek that for the top Premier League clubs who are involved in Europe they would be better off without the “second” domestic cup competition, even though he has won it four times.

And when asked for his response, Guardiola, who saw his Manchester City team have a tougher time before seeing off West Brom 2-1 at the Hawthorns on the same night, said with a smile: “Quite similar, quite similar.

"We have a lot of games. But business is business.

“If you have to play in a competition you have to play in it.

“It’s good for the people you don’t use [their players] a lot.

“It’s a prize where, when you win, it’s OK, but after that the people don’t give too much credit.

I think the prize is good when you win it but you waste a lot of energy

Guardiola on the Carabao Cup

“You don’t get promoted to go to into the Champions League. I think the prize is good when you win it but you waste a lot of energy.

“You can imagine going against a Tony Pulis team and playing 90 minutes in those conditions, then you spend three or four hours on the bus.

“Then three days later, it’s Crystal Palace, three days later, Shakhtar Donetsk, three or four days later, Stamford Bridge.

“So for the managers, there’s a lot of wasted energy. But we knew that before, so it’s not a complaint in those terms. If we have to play, we have to play.”

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Manchester United and Manchester CityGETTY

Manchester United and Manchester City both eased through in the Carabao Cup this week

At least City will not have to travel in the next round because they are at home Wolves.

Guardiola’s men host Palace this weekend knowing they can go clear at the top of the Premier League table if results go their way.

They locked on points with United but sit above their rivals courtesy of alphabetical order.

The Red Devils also play tomorrow at 3pm against Southampton, with Mourinho’s side then heading to Moscow for a Champions League clash with CSKA on Wednesday.

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