Coming into the League Cup clash at St James’ Park, we have maintained an 100% start across six Premier League matches, while also winning the UEFA Super Cup in August.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, though, the Catalan admitted he will look to rotate his side on Tyneside in a bid to keep his players fresh.
But the boss has no concerns that those elected to represent the Club against Eddie Howe’s side will serve with the distinction and class usually associated with City.
“This competition in the first or second round is perfect when you have a full squad. Really, that’s perfect,” he said.
“A few players don’t play and they get rhythm. But in this situation we have to approach differently and prioritise other things.
“What we want to try to do is not perform bad, we need to keep the principles and who we are as a team because it happened last year at Southampton.
“That is the worst game I played as the manager of City by far. I didn’t recognise anything about that. You can lose. Of course you can lose and full credit to Southampton in that game but you have to meet the minimum.
“This is all I want from my team in every game and every single competition. And tomorrow that’s what’s going to happen, I’m pretty sure of that.
“But Kyle Walker is exhausted. He played 90 mins and 90 mins and now lately plays up and down up and down like a full-back, but before it was a full-back with more control in the middle.
“He has spent a lot of energy, so he has to rest otherwise he will be out for weeks. We don’t want that.”
Watch Guardiola‘s full press conference in the video player above!
