Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City will not underestimate Salford City in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round clash, stressing that respect and focus remain the foundations of the club’s sustained dominance.
With City already booked into next month’s League Cup final, attention now turns to progressing further in the FA Cup.
Despite facing League Two opposition at home, Guardiola made it clear there will be no complacency inside the Etihad dressing room.
“Of course it’s League Two. We play at home,” he said.“But I try to inoculate in the minds of the players that nothing is for granted and everything is difficult.
“Of course it could be easy afterwards. But we have to do our job.
“That’s why in the tight competitions in this decade, in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, we have always been there and always behaved really, really good. Tomorrow cannot be an exception.”
Time and again, City have delivered in knockout competitions under Guardiola, lifting multiple domestic trophies through a relentless mentality.
Consequently, the manager believes the same disciplined approach must apply again this weekend as they look to plot a path toward another Wembley showpiece.
Meanwhile, new captain Bernardo Silva continues to embody that winning mindset. The Portuguese midfielder, handed the armband at the start of the season, has already demonstrated his leadership credentials in crucial moments.
During the dramatic win at Anfield against Liverpool, Bernardo netted a vital equaliser before immediately sprinting back to the halfway line, urging his teammates forward.
City went on to find the decisive goal through Erling Haaland, a moment that underlined the skipper’s influence both emotionally and tactically.
Guardiola was full of praise when discussing Bernardo’s leadership style ahead of the weekend’s cup assignment.
“Yes,” he said when asked if the Portuguese led via his actions rather than his words. But he can talk too.
“The best leadership is leading by example. Anyone in the locker room cannot deny that he has that.”
As the FA Cup campaign gathers pace, Guardiola’s message is crystal clear: respect the opponent, execute the plan, and maintain the standards that have defined an era.
If City approach Salford with the same hunger and professionalism that has filled their trophy cabinet over the past decade, another deep cup run could well be on the horizon.
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