Ahead of the FA Cup Fourth round this weekend, ESPN went to the highest ranked team left in the competition, Manchester City, to the lowest ranked team, Barnet, to find what the FA Cup means to contrasting teams in English football.
Manchester City cruise into the FA Cup 5th Round with a comfortable 5-0 win over Burnley at The Etihad.
Pep Guardiola has said he will not be satisfied until he has made Manchester City a club that dominates domestic football like Juventus, Bayern Munich or Barcelona.
City reached the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Burnley in the same week they confirmed a place in the Carabao Cup final.
Guardiola’s side are also four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and in the last 16 of the Champions League and, while the City boss said doing the Quadruple was impossible, he stressed that City must challenge in all competitions every year to become one of the giants.
“It’s important now that, at the end of January, we are still there,” he told a news conference. “At the big clubs, that is the big difference.
“I’ve said many times, what are the best teams in the last decade? Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona. These are the three best teams in Europe. Why? Because every season they win the league, every season they win the cups, every season they are there. Because they are the best.
“We can — not get close to them, because it’s difficult — but imitate them, being in the competition until the last stages. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not, but be there. That’s what I want.”
Being involved in four competitions means City face more games than their rivals — particularly Liverpool, who were knocked out of the domestic cup competitions early on.
However, Guardiola told his players to embrace the chance to play plenty of games and compete for trophies.
“I cannot give a day off. We have a lot of games, so no way. It is what it is. But at the same time I tell them it’s a privilege,” he added.
“If you believe it’s a handicap, that’s a big mistake. It’s a privilege. When you are 35 years old, you can have long holidays. No problem, you will be retired. Take a year for holidays. But for now it’s a privilege.”
City face a crucial period to try to chase down Liverpool, with home games against Arsenal and Chelsea and a trip to Everton coming up over the next fortnight.
Before that, they have the opportunity to put the pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s side by cutting their lead to one point if they beat Newcastle 24 hours before Liverpool’s next game.
But Guardiola warned. “All the times we’ve played Newcastle, we’ve had problems to attack them and to create chances. I think no team is safe going to Newcastle.
“In three days we go there and after that, it’s time to think about Arsenal. If we drop points against Newcastle, then there’s no sense to think about Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea. The next one is the important one.”
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