Pep Guardiola drops Man City FA Cup team news hint - 'we have to'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his team selection for the FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter

Pep Guardiola played down the idea of resting his Manchester City stars for the FA Cup as he said they have to get used to winning again after three consecutive draws. Six points have been dropped from their last three Premier League games - the same number that they are now off Arsenal at the top of the table.

More damaging than the end of their eight-match winning run in all competitions has been the injuries, with significant injuries for Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho in 2026. With further injuries and absences depleting an already-small squad and many of the available players having been used for nearly all of the last 10 games, Saturday's FA Cup tie against League One side Exeter City could be an opportunity to utilise the academy.

Four youngsters usually train with the first team under Guardiola and that has been increased to six or seven over the last month. Some will feature against Exeter, while James Trafford, Rico Lewis and other fringe players can expect to come into the starting XI.

However, the manager made clear that City will not be stacking the team with academy players on Saturday when it is important for their season to return to winning ways. "No. A few of them but not much," he said. "We have to come back to winning games and the FA Cup is the FA Cup."

Guardiola has handed out a number of debuts to academy players this season already; Divine Mukasa has been the standout, while Charlie Gray, Reigan Heskey and Jaden Heskey have all featured in the Carabao Cup and Max Alleyne started in midweek against Brighton after being recalled from his loan at Watford. Stephen Mfuni and Ryan McAidoo could make their first senior appearances on Saturday.

All have impressed in training, and Guardiola suggested that character and confidence were as important as technical skills when he watches them with the first team and assesses if they are ready to step up. "I have to see who they are," he said. "I don't want to ask what they have to do, I want to see who they are - and after we will see. It is not about the skills, not just skills. It is about many things.

"Let me see. When I am there and watching, I see. And I'm good. And when I'm not good, I have assistant coaches who are good too. With four, six, eight eyes, we can realise who they are. I have to discover them. It is the same with Antoine - we have to see them. That is our job - it's not about doing that or that, you have to play. Show me. 'Show me the money', like the movie."