Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will rotate his squad heavily for the Manchester City’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford, with a number of first-team players unavailable and several academy prospects stepping up to train with the senior side.
With injuries, international duty and a demanding schedule all playing a part, Guardiola has made it clear that managing his resources carefully is now a necessity rather than a choice.
Manchester City’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford comes at a busy point in the season, and the Spanish coach admits he is unsure whether his current squad has the depth to mount a serious challenge for the trophy this year.
Guardiola famously led City to four consecutive Carabao Cup triumphs between 2018 and 2021, a period defined by strength in depth and relentless rotation. This time, however, the circumstances are different.
Six senior players will be unavailable for the visit of Brentford. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush have departed to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Jeremy Doku faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a muscle injury last week that is expected to keep him out for two to three weeks.
Their absence adds to an already lengthy injury list that includes Rodri, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, none of whom are expected to recover in time for the cup tie.
Even without those setbacks, Guardiola was already planning to freshen up his side. City have relied on a settled core of players in recent matches against Sunderland, Real Madrid and Crystal Palace, with minimal rotation across those fixtures.
While that approach has brought consistency, it has also placed heavy physical demands on key individuals, something Guardiola is keen to address as the season progresses.
The Carabao Cup has often provided Guardiola with an opportunity to give minutes to squad players and emerging talents, particularly in the earlier rounds. That philosophy has not changed, and with the squad stretched, it is likely to be even more evident against Brentford.
Several young players have been invited to train with the first team in recent weeks, offering them valuable exposure and giving Guardiola additional options.
Divine Mukasa has been a regular presence in first-team training for much of the campaign and was named on the bench for the recent match at Crystal Palace following Doku’s injury.
Reigan Heskey has also returned to work with the senior squad, while Kaden Braithwaite has been promoted to train this week. Their inclusion underlines Guardiola’s willingness to trust youth when circumstances demand it.
One position has already been confirmed, with James Trafford set to start in goal. Beyond that, Guardiola is expected to mix experienced squad members with younger players, striking what he hopes will be the right balance between competitiveness and preservation.
Speaking ahead of the Manchester City’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford game, Guardiola explained his approach clearly, confirming that changes are inevitable and that youth will play a part.
“James is going to play and all the players who didn’t play are going to play, plus some who played today and some from the academy. After that, in three days we have West Ham,” he said per City Xtra
That statement captures the essence of Guardiola’s planning. The Brentford match is important, but it exists within a wider context.
With players carrying heavy minutes and others unavailable, the manager is keen to spread the workload and avoid further setbacks that could damage City’s domestic ambitions.
Guardiola’s focus, however, extends beyond Wednesday night. The Premier League remains the club’s primary objective, and the upcoming clash with West Ham carries significant weight in the title race. With Arsenal setting the pace, City know that any dropped points could prove costly.
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That reality has shaped Guardiola’s thinking, and he has made no attempt to hide where his priorities lie. The physical demands of travel and a tight turnaround between matches mean recovery time is limited, and protecting players from overload is essential.
“I’m not saying that getting to the semi-finals of the League Cup is not the priority, but normally when we achieve it it is because we have all the squad, no injuries and we can rotate, the team is good,” Guardiola said.
His comments reflect a broader truth about City’s recent dominance. Success across multiple competitions has been built on depth and adaptability, qualities that are harder to maintain when injuries mount and players are stretched. Guardiola accepts that this season may require compromise.
The manager also highlighted the fine margins involved when competing on several fronts, particularly when a team is just one match away from a major stage in a competition.
“When you are one game away from the semi-finals in one competition, you can take it because you never know when it’s going back.
I have to find the balance but there are players with a lot of minutes and now we will travel and arrive late in Manchester with not much time to recover and with the physios and the doctors I have to see because the important game is West Ham. I’m sorry but West Ham is so, so important.”