Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to select a "serious team" for Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie away against Championship side Bristol City.
The Citizens enter the contest at Ashton Gate after cruising to a 4-1 away victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, with Julian Alvarez, Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden among the goalscorers.
While the top-flight title race remains high on the agenda, with City still sitting two points behind leaders Arsenal having played a game more, their attention now shifts to the FA Cup – a competition that Guardiola and co last won in 2018-19.
Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte have not featured in the last two games due to illness, although the former watched on as an unused substitute in the win over Bournemouth.
Asked about De Bruyne's condition at a press conference on Monday, Guardiola said: "Kevin still has a little illness but he is better."
© Reuters
However, the Catalan boss remained coy when questioned about the availability of Laporte and John Stones, with the latter having not played for the Citizens since sustaining a hamstring injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Arsenal on January 27.
Both players are believed to be closing in on a return to first-team action, but Guardiola affirmed that he will know more about their availability after team training on Monday afternoon.
Man City are preparing for their first meeting with Bristol City since January 2018 when they claimed a 5-3 aggregate victory in the EFL Cup semi-finals, securing a 2-1 first-leg win at the Etihad Stadium before winning 3-2 in the reverse fixture.
The Robins currently sit 13th in the Championship table, nine points behind the playoffs with 13 games still remaining, and they have put together an impressive 12-game unbeaten run heading into Tuesday's encounter, including a 3-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup fourth round.
Guardiola is expecting a challenging cup tie against Nigel Pearson's side and has suggested that a strong Citizens team will be selected at Ashton Gate.
"Last 12 games, no defeats. This means they are there," said Guardiola. "My scouts said they are a good team. [Pearson] has a lot of experience and did really well at Leicester City and Watford.
© Reuters
"[Tuesday] is a final, the FA Cup is an important competition, really, really important so a serious team will play tomorrow.
"From my experience in this country when you go away from home in the FA Cup against a Championship side, always, always it is tough. At home it would be a little bit different, away, always it is tough the FA Cup.
"That is why we are flying there tomorrow to do a good game and go through. It is a nice competition and we will do what we have to do."
Man City have already beaten both Chelsea and Arsenal to reach the fifth round this term, and they will be confident of success on Tuesday after winning each of their last 10 away matches in the FA Cup.
Oliver Thomas
