Guardiola wary of Newport
Pep Guardiola has admitted that League Two side Newport County are "taller and stronger" than his Manchester City side ahead of their FA Cup fifth-round tie.
The City chief is preparing his City squad for an eye-opening encounter on Saturday evening as they will face a buoyant Exiles side on a poor pitch in front of their own fans at Rodney Parade.
Premier League side Leicester and Championship promotion-chasers Middlesbrough have already been defeated in South Wales in the FA Cup this season, while Newport beat Leeds and drew with Tottenham on home soil 12 months ago.
What they do, they do it really well. We've watched as many games as possible to understand what they do. We respect them a lot.
Pep Guardiola
Newport boss Michael Flynn claimed it would be the biggest FA Cup shock of all time if his team managed to dump the reigning Premier League champions out of the competition.
However, Guardiola, who watched his side lost at League One Wigan at the same stage last season, is adamant that "anything can happen" and insisted that his players will fully respect their opponents.
The Spanish tactician said: "What they do, they do it really well. We've watched as many games as possible to understand what they do. We respect them a lot.
"We are going to suffer because they are taller and stronger than us. In some areas, they are better than us.
"We have to try to bring our game in the way we are stronger than them. Which team controls these areas, or brings their own game, in that moment will have the advantage to go through.
"If we just expect, because they are in a lower division, it will be easy, we would make a big mistake.
"We will take it seriously and we know how tough it will be, from the first minute until the end."
On the state of Newport's pitch, Guardiola, who will again be without Vincent Kompany, Claudio Bravo and Benjamin Mendy, added: "We'll see what the pitch is like when we arrive. If you cannot play (the normal game), you have to play longer or quicker - but I don't know. We are going to see.
"You don't win absolutely anything complaining about that. When we play away, they are the owners of their stadium and they can play the pitch what it is."
City are 1/20 to see off Newport, while the giantkillers are priced at 33/1 to secure their biggest scalp yet and they are 14/1 to hold the Premier League leaders to a draw and secure a replay at the Etihad Stadium.
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Pep Guardiola has admitted that League Two side Newport County are "taller and stronger" than his Manchester City side ahead of their FA Cup fifth-round tie.
The City chief is preparing his City squad for an eye-opening encounter on Saturday evening as they will face a buoyant Exiles side on a poor pitch in front of their own fans at Rodney Parade.
Premier League side Leicester and Championship promotion-chasers Middlesbrough have already been defeated in South Wales in the FA Cup this season, while Newport beat Leeds and drew with Tottenham on home soil 12 months ago.
What they do, they do it really well. We've watched as many games as possible to understand what they do. We respect them a lot.
Pep Guardiola
Newport boss Michael Flynn claimed it would be the biggest FA Cup shock of all time if his team managed to dump the reigning Premier League champions out of the competition.
However, Guardiola, who watched his side lost at League One Wigan at the same stage last season, is adamant that "anything can happen" and insisted that his players will fully respect their opponents.
The Spanish tactician said: "What they do, they do it really well. We've watched as many games as possible to understand what they do. We respect them a lot.
"We are going to suffer because they are taller and stronger than us. In some areas, they are better than us.
"We have to try to bring our game in the way we are stronger than them. Which team controls these areas, or brings their own game, in that moment will have the advantage to go through.
"If we just expect, because they are in a lower division, it will be easy, we would make a big mistake.
"We will take it seriously and we know how tough it will be, from the first minute until the end."
On the state of Newport's pitch, Guardiola, who will again be without Vincent Kompany, Claudio Bravo and Benjamin Mendy, added: "We'll see what the pitch is like when we arrive. If you cannot play (the normal game), you have to play longer or quicker - but I don't know. We are going to see.
"You don't win absolutely anything complaining about that. When we play away, they are the owners of their stadium and they can play the pitch what it is."
City are 1/20 to see off Newport, while the giantkillers are priced at 33/1 to secure their biggest scalp yet and they are 14/1 to hold the Premier League leaders to a draw and secure a replay at the Etihad Stadium.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com
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