The Manchester City boss does not want the emotion of the fiercely competitive fixture to get the better of his squad, who hold a 3-1 lead from the away fixture at Old Trafford three weeks ago.
With local pride as well as a place in the Carabao Cup final at stake, Guardiola is well aware of how much the game means to the fans, but says he and his players must have a calm and clear focus if we’re to get a positive result.
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“I know for the fans it’s important. I know how they feel,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“I try to be calm and not get over excited to play the game, because sometimes you forget what you do. I focus on what you have to do to win.
“I said to the players after the first leg, be calm because we created enough chances to be four or five up and the game was still open. They had the quality to do that.
“Just relax. In this kind of game, the more important it is to be calm and try to focus on what you have to do.
“I don’t think this kind of game is won just with energy or because you feel you have to win because it’s a derby. You don’t win these games in that kind of way.”
City’s two goal aggregate lead was born out an utterly dominant first half spell at Old Trafford, where we scored three goals, though Marcus Rashford’s second half strike gives the Reds hope of turning things round.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who won at the Etihad Stadium in December, have endured an inconsistent Premier League campaign thus far.
However, Guardiola is adamant the tie is far from over and again reiterated the need for City to control United’s counter-attacking threat.
“We have to take the right approach in the way we want to play and try to reach another final. That is our dream,” he added.
“In attacking positions, they have quality in the middle, especially with Mata and Lingard. They have incredible pace up front. They don’t have Rashford, but they still have Martial and James.
“They have good quality in the middle with Greenwood. With set-pieces they have Lindelof, Maguire and Matic. Strong full-backs with Wan-Bissaka and Shaw. The goalkeeper is a good international.
“When they defend deep, they can run. We experienced that, not just when we lost here in the Premier League, it was the same in the previous season with Mourinho.
“They are incredible on the counter-attack and you have to control them.”
