Pep Guardiola says he is happy to make the Carabao Cup Final for the third year in a row after seeing off local rivals Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate.
Nemanja Matić’s first-half strike gave the Reds the win on the night but it was the Citizens’ first-leg performance that carried them through, and Guardiola feels privileged to be lining up against a team like Aston Villa.
“I am happy to be there again, there has never been any complacency from my team and I am looking to playing a very historical team like Aston Villa,” he said.
“Over the two games, 180 minutes, we were better than Manchester United, we are incredibly happy that we are going to Wembley again but my focus now is on Tottenham.
“It is our third Final in a row, so when people say that we don’t fight for this competition they are wrong because we have made the Final three years in a row.”
Despite reaching the Final, City failed to score in the second leg against United and Guardiola wants his side to be more clinical when the opportunity arises.
“I think we played really well in both games, we conceded a goal in the only time in the first half they had a shot on target, and in the second half we created enough chances to score a lot of goals,” he added.
“It was the same at Old Trafford [in the first leg] and I am happy that we created a lot more tonight, and we have to remember that, but we have to be more clinical because we are a team that can score goals.
“But we have the clear chances we have to score goals. I was never concerned, I am incredibly happy, we played really well and I am pleased.”