Manchester City watched rivals Manchester United win their first trophy in six years last weekend, but that EFL Cup final success had no impact on Pep Guardiola's men.

Man United defeated Newcastle United – City's Premier League opponents on Saturday – 2-0 at Wembley to mark a new high point in Erik ten Hag's impressive debut season at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag's side are still in the FA Cup, like City, and the Europa League, while their form has encouraged talk of an unlikely Premier League title bid.

City will hope to stand in their neighbours' path, but Guardiola had a short response when asked if Man United's victory meant anything for his team.

"No, nothing," he replied.

Guardiola was similarly terse in swatting away questions on comments from Erling Haaland's agent and LaLiga chief Javier Tebas.

Rafaela Pimenta, Haaland's representative, had described Real Madrid as a "dreamland" for players, while City critic Tebas has weighed in on the Premier League investigation into the club's alleged financial breaches.

Guardiola was more interested in discussing Newcastle, who are winless in four in the league and suffered Wembley heartbreak but remain in Champions League contention in fifth place.

Having been battling relegation last season, Guardiola said: "[The progress] is incredible. What happened last season and this season making the step forward, it looks like they came to stay here.

"From what I've seen lately, even the final against United, and what they have done all season, it is one of the toughest opponents we have until the end of the season for their quality.

"They can do everything – experience, the threats, the transitions, [at] set-pieces the best team in the league. There are many, many things. That's why they are there for a long time this season."

Real Madrid remains the "dreamland" for any footballer, according to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta.

Haaland has scored an incredible 33 goals for City this term – four more than any other player across Europe's top five leagues – and has set a number of records along the way.

Despite being in the first season of a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, the Norway international continues to be linked with a move to LaLiga heavyweights Real Madrid.

City manager Pep Guardiola previously denied reports that Haaland has a release clause in his contract that will allow him to join Madrid at the end of next season.

But Haaland's agent did little to quash talk of a future switch to the Spanish capital when asked about the 22-year-old's future at the FT Business of Football Summit in London.

"There is the Premier League, and there is Real Madrid. Real Madrid has something of its own that makes it the dreamland for the players," Pimenta said. 

"Madrid keeps this magic going. They don't have the league competition every week, but they do have the Champions League.”

Haaland has previously said the attractiveness of playing under Guardiola at a club where father Alf-Inge once played was too much to turn down.

However, Pimenta suggested the former Borussia Dortmund star already knows which club he will join next.

"We have to make a plan, we need to have a goal," she said. "Maybe we won't achieve it, but if we don't know where we're going, then for sure we don't get there.

"We make plans, yes, we make plans even if they are a 15-year-old. We cannot be sitting down and waiting."

Haaland is one of a number of high-profile clients represented by Pimenta, along with the likes of Paul Pogba, Matthijs de Ligt, Marco Verratti and Ryan Gravenberch.

All of those players have either played in or been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, which Pimenta feels is still the elite division in world football.

"When I started in this business, if I told [a player], 'you're moving to England', they would ask me, 'what did I do wrong?'," she said.

"Now when we talk to players, and ask them what is their goal, they say the Premier League. They don't say a team, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, they say 'the Premier League'.

"This is the first time in 25 years that I hear so many players say I want to go to a league, not to a club. This is the place to be for an agent.

"An agent needs to be where a player wants to be. It's a fantastic league. It's so competitive, every game is a challenge, everyone wants to watch it."

Chelsea will reportedly make a run at signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic at the end of the season after a troubling campaign for the Blues in front of goal.

Through 24 Premier League fixtures, Chelsea have only scored 23 goals, ranking them 14th overall and the lowest total of any side in the top 11.

Lacking a true number nine, and with it remaining unlikely that Romelu Lukaku returns from his Inter loan next season, Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on Vlahovic.

The 23-year-old, who arrived in Turin for a €70million fee in January 2022, has had an injury-interrupted first full season in Italy, with eight goals in 15 Serie A appearances.

While Massimiliano Allegri's side would likely prefer to persist with the tall frontman, who already has 10 senior international goals for Serbia in 19 appearances, the club's financial position could force their hand.

TOP STORY – VLAHOVIC EMERGES AS POTENTIAL ANSWER TO CHELSEA'S STRIKER DILEMMA

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are "desperate" to add a true striker, and view Vlahovic as one of three desirable Serie A targets.

They are also supposedly weighing up the possibility of bringing Roma's Tammy Abraham back to Stamford Bridge, while Chelsea will also test the availability of Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who is thought to be an unrealistic option.

The report adds that Vlahovic is one of the players Juventus may make available at the end of the season as they work to recover from financial uncertainty.

ROUND-UP

– The Times reports that Chelsea have reignited their interest in 21-year-old RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, who they are hoping to land for a fee cheaper than the £97m (€110m) release clause that will become active in 2024.

– According to Express, 24-year-old Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has decided to snub Manchester United and will instead join Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer when his contract expires in July.

– Real Madrid are monitoring 25-year-old Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, although the Brazilian insists he is content with his current situation, per Mundo Deportivo.

– Sport reports that Madrid will be joined by rivals Barcelona in the pursuit of 28-year-old Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte.

– According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to land 24-year-old Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount if he decides to not sign a long-term extension.

Jack Grealish could not have imagined he was setting himself up for a fall when he picked on Newcastle United flop Miguel Almiron while celebrating his first Premier League title triumph.

On an individual level, Grealish's debut season at Manchester City had not been a roaring success.

But his six goal involvements in the Premier League dwarfed Almiron's one, giving Grealish the confidence to talk down the Newcastle winger the day after City's dramatic 3-2 title-clinching win against former club Aston Villa.

Misfiring City team-mate Riyad Mahrez needed to be substituted "as soon as possible" in that match, a drunken Grealish said, because he had "played like Almiron".

For his part, Almiron brushed off the barb and wished Grealish well.

Meanwhile, the horrified City winger, having sobered up, sought to apologise to the Paraguay international and acknowledged he deserved "a lot of stick off the Newcastle fans".

Grealish was at least spared slightly in that regard as a minor injury kept him out in August when City visited St James' Park for a match in which Almiron scored his first of 10 goals this season.

Almiron then netted six in October alone, when it seemed he could do no wrong. Only once in his Premier League career has Grealish tallied more than six across an entire season.

But heading into Saturday's reverse fixture between City and Newcastle in Manchester, Grealish is the form man, playing his best football under Pep Guardiola.

Since the World Cup, a period in which fellow left-sided attacker Phil Foden has struggled for fitness, Grealish has two goals and four assists in the league. Including cup competitions, he has a further two assists on top.

Those eight goal involvements in 16 matches (one every 134 minutes) compare to 11 in 55 (one every 343 mins) over the first 16 months of Grealish's City career.

However, his is an upturn that can be explained no more easily than Almiron's.

Following the World Cup, looking at slightly more granular per-90 metrics, Grealish has actually seen a decline in chances created, passes into the box, touches and touches in the box. A very slight boost in expected assists does not account for those improved assist numbers.

Yet as long as Grealish continues to deliver in big games, supplying goals against Manchester United and Arsenal and assists against Chelsea and Arsenal, Guardiola is unlikely to mind.

City at least have alternative options if this run proves unsustainable. They head into Saturday's latest sizeable match on a high – in complete contrast with a stuttering Newcastle and their leading marksman regressing to the mean.

Almiron outperformed his xG by 3.3 across that inexplicable October but has otherwise almost exactly matched his expected figure over the rest of the season.

Worse still for Newcastle, Almiron's team-mates have failed to even do that since the World Cup.

In all competitions, only four Premier League teams have scored fewer goals per game than Newcastle (0.9) over that period, yet the Magpies rank fifth for xG per game (1.8).

Eddie Howe's side should have scored roughly twice as many goals as they have, underperforming their total xG of 25.6 by 12.6. Chelsea's underperformance of 9.4 is next-worst, followed by a distant 6.3 from Everton.

While Newcastle have won only five of 14 matches since the restart, they have come out on top on xG in 11 of those.

Almiron is not the problem, it appears, but another run like that of earlier in the season might be required to set Newcastle back on track.

Instead, confidence is again on Grealish's side, with the England man primed to this time do his talking on the pitch after last May's title party mishap.

Investigations into Manchester City's alleged financial misconduct have "taken too long", believes LaLiga chief Javier Tebas.

The Premier League champions have been charged by the competition with over 100 rule breaches in relation to their financial dealings following an investigation lasting Wober four years.

City have denied any wrongdoing, and say they will fight the accusations, which could lead to sanctions including a points deduction and potential relegation.

Tebas, who has been frequently critical of the Premier League's wealth, suggested the investigation had dragged its feet however, having first raised the issue in 2017.

"Now it is 2023, and nothing has moved on, but suddenly there is an enquiry," he told the Financial Times Business of Football Summit.

"It has taken too long. We know there was an alleged breach of 100 articles. So any decisions will have to be adopted accordingly by the Premier League."

Tebas drew comparisons to LaLiga title frontrunners Barcelona, who have frequently been in conflict with the governing body over their own financial conduct.

The Blaugrana have amassed eye-watering debts, and were forced to activate additional financial levers in order to fund their transfer market activity last year.

"One of the worst things about financial controls is if you don't follow or comply with it," Tebas added.

"Barcelona are so important for LaLiga in Spain, but if I looked away and didn't pay attention to what is happening with their finances, it would be a gross error.

"Our whole system would collapse. It is impossible for them to do transfer business in the summer because of the numbers. This needs to be resolved, and we need to act."

Declan Rice's West Ham contract is due to expire next year and he has rejected fresh terms, prompting interest from rival English clubs.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been linked with the 24-year-old England international midfielder.

But the Hammers have rated Rice at £100million, which would be close to a British-record transfer fee.

TOP STORY – CITY TAKE POLE POSITION FOR RICE

Manchester City are leading the pursuit to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, reports TEAMtalk.

The report claims City have come into contention with a probable trio of off-season departures paving the way for the English champions to afford the move.

Kalvin Phillips, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are all potentially on the way out at Etihad Stadium as City contemplate a midfield overhaul.

ROUND-UP

– Fichajes claims Manchester City have placed an €80m (£71m) price tag on Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, with Barcelona interested in securing his services. However, the report claims that valuation will likely price out the Blaugrana.

– Bayern Munich are set to hand Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting an improved contract from €5m a year to €10m including bonuses a year as part of an extension until 2024, reports Bild. The Cameroonian had been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham previously, and the deal may put to bed Bayern links with Spurs forward Harry Kane.

– Barcelona have been linked with Manchester City's Julian Alvarez lately, but Football Insider claims Real Madrid are also keeping tabs on the Argentinian forward as they look for depth behind Karim Benzema.

– Mundo Deportivo reports Real Madrid are tracking Benfica's 19-year-old defender Antonio Silva, although he is contracted with the Portuguese club until 2027.

– Manchester United and Atletico Madrid will battle it out to sign Roma forward Paulo Dybala, who has a €12m (£10.6m) release clause in his contract, according to Fichajes.

– Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has declined Manchester United's advances and opted to sign with Eintracht Frankfurt, claims the Daily Express.

– Napoli are looking to secure Chelsea and Newcastle United target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to a new deal until 2028 to ward off interest, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

Manchester City will reunite with club legend Vincent Kompany when they face Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals, while Manchester United will host Fulham.

Pep Guardiola's top-flight champions eased past Bristol City 3-0 on Tuesday, while United backed up their EFL Cup success with a 3-1 comeback victory over West Ham.

City will face former defender Kompany, who lifted four Premier League titles at Etihad Stadium, after being drawn at home to runaway Championship leaders Burnley following their late 1-0 win against Fleetwood Town on Wednesday.

United ended a six-year trophy drought on Sunday by defeating Newcastle United and will continue their quest for further silverware when they host Fulham at Old Trafford.

Fourth-tier Grimsby Town remain the shock package in this season's FA Cup after Premier League Southampton fell to a 2-1 home loss and became the Mariners' fifth victim from a higher division in the 2022-23 campaign.

The League Two side's reward will be a trip to in-form Brighton and Hove Albion, who edged past Stoke City 1-0 in the fifth round on Tuesday.

Sheffield United were another surprise winner in the last 16 of the competition, defeating Tottenham 1-0, and will host Blackburn Rovers, which ensures at least one Championship side will reach the semi-finals.

All ties are set to be played between March 17 and 19 with the quarter-final contestants one win from a trip to Wembley.

FA Cup quarter-final draw in full:

Manchester City v Burnley

Manchester United v Fulham

Brighton and Hove Albion v Grimsby Town

Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers

Alexis Mac Allister believes his "next step" should be with another Premier League club amid speculation linking Liverpool and Manchester City with the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder.

Mac Allister has been linked with several big clubs since helping Argentina lift the World Cup for a third time in Qatar last year.

The 24-year-old's cultured performances have helped Brighton into contention for European qualification, and he has been touted as a possible target for struggling Liverpool, who are likely to be in the market for midfielders at the end of the season.

More recently, Mac Allister was suggested as a potential replacement for City's Ilkay Gundogan should the Germany international depart when his contract expires in June.

While Mac Allister remains focused on Brighton's push for a top-six finish, he feels a Premier League giant – rather than a transfer abroad – will be a better fit when he decides to move on.

"I don't have a particular team where I say 'this is the way I play'. I think that here in the Premier League, there are very strong teams that play very well, like Manchester City and Arsenal," he told TyC Sports.

"Chelsea too, I had [Graham] Potter as coach and I know the idea he has of playing football. 

"Manchester United are returning to be what they were, and Liverpool are going through some ups and downs but they still have a very important team.

"If I have to say a place, I would like my next step to be in the Premier League. But the truth is that I am very focused here in Brighton and enjoying the present."

Only recent Arsenal acquisition Leandro Trossard (seven) and Pascal Gross (six) have bettered Mac Allister's tally of five goals in 19 Premier League outings for Brighton this term.

Andrew Cole is adamant his former team Manchester United have no chance of winning the Premier League this season.

United picked up their first piece of silverware since 2017 with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. 

They also remain in the hunt for the Europa League after defeating Barcelona, while Erik ten Hag's team face West Ham on Wednesday for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

In the league, United sit third – eight points off leaders Arsenal – but Cole is certain that, despite their fine form in 2023, they will not challenge for the title.

Speaking to Stats Perform, he said: "If you look at the teams in front of them in Manchester City and Arsenal, Manchester City would have to capitulate and so would Arsenal.

"Man City's form has been very indifferent this season and Arsenal at the present moment are scratching through and getting results.

"So for Man United to win the league, those teams would have to capitulate and Manchester United would have to win virtually every game from now until the end of the season. 

"That is a tall order, especially with the games coming up.

"I'd be very happy for us to finish in the top four which we have a great chance of doing. We're still in Europa League, we are still in the FA Cup and then go from there. 

"But I think if you set the priorities at the start of the season, to talk about winning the league, everyone would have said, 'Nah you're mad, actually mad, not a chance.' So what's changed?"

City hammered Bournemouth on Saturday but had previously slipped up against Nottingham Forest, with Arsenal reclaiming top spot.

Arsenal have the opportunity to move five points clear at the top of the table when they play struggling Everton on Wednesday.

Yet Cole, who won five titles with United, believes the experience of reigning champions City will help them to triumph over Mikel Arteta's side.

He added: "I'm still going for Man City – they've got the experience, they've won it numerous times before. Their form has been so indifferent this season but at some stage, they're going to catch fire.

"Arsenal at this present moment, are at this time getting results but not playing particularly well – whoever's at the top of the league will always go for a little blip.

"United have done it at the start of this season. Chelsea have actually imploded, Tottenham – exactly the same thing. 

"It feels a little bit like when Leicester won the league. It wasn't down to Leicester being a good team, it's about the teams around them just for whatever reason, couldn't get themselves going to get themselves in a position to win the league, and Leicester were very consistent. 

"That's why they won it, as simple as that. So we'll have to wait and see."

Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to not even waste a second thinking about the prospect of winning a treble this season.

The reigning English champions saw off second-tier side Bristol City 3-0 on Tuesday, thanks to Phil Foden's brace and a Kevin De Bruyne strike, to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

City are level with RB Leipzig at 1-1 after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and trail Arsenal – who have a game in hand – by two points in the Premier League.

Guardiola has previous experience of winning a European and domestic treble during his time with Barcelona, but he is not giving that any consideration right now.

"No, forget about it," he said when asked about the possibility of lifting three trophies this season. "Forget it.

"When you start to talk about that, you start to lose competitions and drop competitions. We are not ready. We will not spend even one second thinking about that. We just think about [the next game against] Newcastle.

"The only thing I've said many times – I'm so annoyed to say it again and again and again and again after what happened in the last years – we are still two, three months away from finishing the season, we are still in three competitions."

City have won the Premier League in four of the past five seasons, and Guardiola says toppling Arsenal – while also holding off in-form rivals Manchester United – remains the top priority for his side.

"That is the biggest credit. This is the biggest title. The biggest one," he said. 

"I know we cannot drop points in the Premier League because we have on top of us a team [Arsenal], and United are coming from behind.

"And the Champions league, we see what happen in two weeks. What is important is we are there, but of course, we are going to continue as long as possible."

Rafael Leao's name has long been in the rumour file given his contract status with Milan.

The forward is contracted with the Serie A side until July 2024 but has stalled on an extension, with no agreement on a salary increase.

There was speculation in January that a renewal was close but nothing materialised.

TOP STORY – MILAN'S LEAO BOOST

Rafael Leao would prefer to stay with Milan rather than move elsewhere, amid interest from a host of top clubs, claims Fabrizio Romano.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been linked with the 23-year-old Portugal international.

But it is claimed Milan could renew Leao's deal before the next transfer window, effectively warding off their interest.

ROUND-UP

– Erik ten Hag wants to add at least two major signings at Manchester United in the off-season, with Ajax's Mohammed Kudus and Napoli's Victor Osimhen on their list, claims the Manchester Evening News.

– Manchester City are weighing up a move for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to The Telegraph. The Croatian's contract expires in mid-2024. Football Insider reports City are also interested in Chelsea's full-back Ben Chilwell.

– Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig both have an interest in signing Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who is out of contract at the end of this season, claims Bild.

– Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement for Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu to join as a free agent in the off-season, reports 90min.

– El Nacional claims Dusan Vlahovic has also spoken to Real Madrid about a potential move to Spain from Juventus.

– Juventus are also keen on signing out-of-favour Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, according to Fichajes.

Phil Foden was elated to be back among the goals following "one of the lowest parts" of his career after his double helped Manchester City to victory over Bristol City.

The Citizens cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as Foden scored twice before Kevin De Bruyne added a superb late third to see off their Championship hosts.

Foden has now been involved in 15 goals in 18 FA Cup appearances for Man City (10 goals, five assists) and made it three goals in two games after he scored against Bournemouth in a 4-1 Premier League victory at the weekend.

His goal against the Cherries was Foden's first in the league since November and marked a welcome return to form after a tough period for the Man City youth product, who has been in and out of the line-up having struggled with a foot injury of late.

After his double at Bristol City, Foden told ITV Sport: "I feel much better in my feet. 

"I'm feeling 100 per cent fit now and comfortable, so hopefully I can come back into the team and help as much as possible.

"It's been one of the lowest parts of my career, but everybody goes through them, and it's how you react. The discomfort in my feet, not playing as much... I love to play football, and when I don't, I'm a bit frustrated."

Pep Guardiola lauded Foden's influence on the team, saying: "He's dynamic, his rhythm, work ethic and quality.

"Football players have up and downs, and his career was always up, up, up. Phil has always had a high level.

"His impact has been amazing. When you work like he works, it always pays off."

Wednesday's win made it six matches unbeaten in all competitions for Guardiola's men, and Foden believes Man City can kick on to end the season strongly, although he also felt 3-0 was not a fair reflection following the spirited display of their Championship opponents.

"I don't think it was a 3-0 game, to be honest," Foden added. "It was quite tight at times. They gave us a really big challenge, but in the end our quality has shone through.

"The last two games have been brilliant, and we look like we're making a step forward. Hopefully we can keep up this form now and finish the season strong."

Two goals from Phil Foden and a Kevin De Bruyne wonder strike helped Manchester City see off Championship side Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate on Tuesday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

After Foden fired in from Riyad Mahrez's excellent cross to put the visitors ahead early on, the Robins came close in their search for an equaliser when Sam Bell headed wide in the second half.

Bristol City's hopes of producing a shock were soon dashed, though, as Foden's deflected effort found the bottom corner before De Bruyne lashed in from range to put the tie beyond doubt.

Pep Guardiola's men made it 11 consecutive away wins in the FA Cup to boost their hopes of lifting the trophy for a seventh time.

The visitors rattled the crossbar through Kalvin Phillips within the opening two minutes, but they did not have to wait too much longer to open the scoring.

Great work from Mahrez down the right ended with a pinpoint cross for Foden, who made no mistake with the back-post finish.

Nigel Pearson's men produced a spirited response with Alex Scott testing Stefan Ortega, though Mahrez saw a volley cleared off the line at the other end as Man City took a narrow lead into the break.

The hosts continued to threaten after the break as the home crowd roared them on in hope of an unlikely upset, with Bell missing a great opportunity to level when his close-range header flew wide.

Bell was made to pay for that miss shortly after, with Foden's low strike inadvertently helped into his own goal by Zak Vyner, and De Bruyne added a late third with a brilliant long-range drive to ensure Man City's safe passage into the final eight.

Chelsea have continued to struggle in recent weeks despite their busy transfer activity during the January window.

The Blues have failed to score in their past three games, all defeats, and won only once in their past 11 games in all competitions.

Chelsea have only scored four goals in those 11 games this calendar year, with the situation putting pressure on new manager Graham Potter.

TOP STORY – CHELSEA TO TURN TO TAMMY

Chelsea could turn to former striker Tammy Abraham from Roma in the off-season, according to Football Insider.

There is a £70.5million (€80m) clause in Abraham's Roma contract that would allow the Blues to bring him back to Stamford Bridge which they intend to trigger, according to the report.

Chelsea have struggled for goals lately and view Abraham as a cheaper alternative to Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

ROUND-UP

– L'Equipe reports Kylian Mbappe will still leave Paris Saint-Germain in the near future even if he extends his contract. Mbappe's deal expires next year, but there is talk that PSG are looking to seal an extension for financial purposes.

– Arsenal have submitted a £35m (€40m) bid to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, claims Calciomercato. Fichajes says the Gunners are also interested in West Ham's Lucas Paqueta as another midfield option.

– Real Madrid will rival Barcelona and Chelsea in the pursuit to sign Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, reports Corriere dello Sport.

– Barcelona are interested in signing Julian Alvarez from Manchester City on loan, claims Mundo Deportivo, while the English champions have offered him a one-year contract extension until 2028 on improved terms, according to Fabrizio Romano.

– Liverpool's plans to overhaul their midfield next season mean they have Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat and Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo in their sights, per Fichajes.

– Football Insider reports Liverpool are also monitoring N'Golo Kante's situation at Chelsea with talks ongoing over a contract extension.

If Manchester United are not already back, they will be "sooner or later", according to rival manager Pep Guardiola.

United beat Newcastle United 2-0 in Sunday's EFL Cup final to win their first major honour in six years.

Victory at Wembley brought tangible reward for an impressive first season under Erik ten Hag, who has United third in the Premier League and still in the Europa League and FA Cup.

There have been false dawns for United previously in the post-Alex Ferguson era, but Guardiola, the Manchester City boss, was asked if they were now "back".

"First and foremost, congratulations to United for the Carabao Cup, for the final – Newcastle as well, that the game was entertaining," Guardiola said.

"Yes, sooner or later, it should happen, shouldn't it? Couldn't it? It should happen. Welcome."

United, in the midst of a takeover saga, would be a more serious threat if they "spend a little bit more money" according to the City manager.

Assessing Ten Hag's side, Guardiola added: "It's normal, they are in the position they normally should be.

"But the reality, with those teams, especially Liverpool and Manchester United, in the last years what we have done is incredible, the numbers. Always when I landed here, I thought United always would be there for the history, for everything.

"So, Erik is doing incredible job. The players, you see how committed they are, how all together they try to do it.

"When you have many years, five, six years without winning one title, when you have that challenge... I remember when we won the first Carabao Cup, when we travelled to win the Carabao Cup, and everyone was so excited to do it.

"[For the] staff it was new, for the players it was new. The fourth time we travelled there to win the fourth Carabao Cup in a row, it was okay, it was another one and another day in the office. It's normal, that is normal.

"United has to be there. [City are] always having big opponents that we were better than in previous seasons and now it's close. And I thought that would happen in the Premier League."