The City boss has advised the Club’s Academy prospects to spend as much time with the 36-year-old goalkeeper as possible, who he believes can provide them with an ideal education as they embark on their careers in professional football.
Carson has established himself as a highly valued member of the first team squad since he arrived at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2019.
Signed to provide experienced cover as third choice goalkeeper, the England international has become an important figure in the dressing room and Guardiola says City’s promising group of youngsters can benefit from his wisdom.
“The best advice I could give to the young players is to stay around Scott Carson as much as possible in the locker room and on the pitch,” he said at his pre-match press conference ahead of City’s trip to Crystal Palace.
“It would be better than being with me. If they spend a lot of time [with him], listen to him and pay attention, that is the best advice and learning they can get about their future careers.
“Every second he is training and every minute you get on the pitch and in the changing room [with Carson], you value.
“It’s like the young actors have to be with the old actors on the set. They are wiser and have the values of the profession.”
Carson played the final 17 minutes of City’s goalless draw with Sporting as we cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 5-0 aggregate win.
Top of the Premier League and in the last eight of the FA Cup, the result leaves City on course for what would be a famous treble, but thoughts of such achievements are far from Guardiola’s mind.
The Catalan says he does not use the prospect of such success as a source of inspiration, repeating his mantra that his team must focus only the next game.
“No, it doesn’t motivate me,” he added, when asked about the prospect of a treble. “Absolutely zero.
“The reality is tougher than you suggest. You should understand that sport at a high level is so competitive and so difficult. All we have to do is try to win at Crystal Palace.
“I am happy we are in quarter-finals. The best eight teams in Europe. It will be so tough, and I guess it will be tough for the opponents to face us.
“It’s step by step. Now we have to recover, increase our level and at the end we will see.”
