Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called on his players over 30 to help guide the club into a new era following a difficult season.
The Premier League champions host Plymouth in the FA Cup on Saturday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
City made the final last season but lost to rivals Manchester United and will be backing themselves to dispose of the Championship strugglers and move on.
Speaking on his squad ahead of the game, Guardiola said: “Never impossible but it is difficult because when you have done what we have done it was deemed impossible before we did what we have done.
“There are players here that their age is over 30 but they are part of the future of this club. Except Kevin [de Bruyne], and Kevin and the club will decide on his future everyone who has a contract for next season I expect him to be here.
“They are going to help us. Next season will be a lot of games. We cannot do it just with our new ones. They will be able to help and be part of our season.”
𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
🆚 Plymouth Argyle (H)
🏆 #FACup
🎙️ @PepTeam
⤵️ Watch live— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 28, 2025
Plymouth have made themselves a nuisance in the competition this season, beating Brentford and Liverpool to advance to this stage.
And if the second-division side can dispose of the Premier League champions in waiting, they stand a chance against the current kings of England.
Guardiola was full of praise for the club ahead of the meeting, saying: “It is not unknown. If you are able to beat the best team in the country this season Liverpool. They went unbeaten also at Brentford then it is not unknown.”
On the claims La Liga president Javier Tebas has reported Man City to the European Commission for breaching financial rules, the boss added: “I don’t know. It happened in the past with UEFA and in a few weeks it’ll happen in the Premier League, the sentence [to the 115 charges], right? We wait, and after we talk.”
