Pep Guardiola will deny Manchester City stars beers even if they beat Arsenal in EFL Cup final

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will deny his players a celebratory beer if they lift the EFL Cup.

Guardiola could win the first trophy of his City reign with victory over Arsenal in the final at Wembley on Sunday.

The image of players swigging from bottles in the dressing room afterwards used to be commonplace after showpiece finals at the national stadium. However, with a Premier League fixture against the same opposition at the Emirates on Thursday, Guardiola is keen to keep his players in tip-top condition.

The 47-year-old Catalan is renowned for his eye for detail and booze will not be part of the post-match party for his players to ensure they are in peak physical and mental state for their next match.

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“Normally there is no alcohol,” Guardiola said. “But I think talking about the celebration before the game is stupid, it makes no sense. Before the celebration we have to play a game.”

City’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple were ended last Monday after an FA Cup fifth-round defeat to League One Wigan Athletic.

Guardiola admits there is some anxiety in the City camp ahead of the final with Arsenal with it being the first English domestic final for a number of the club’s players. He urged his side to relax and enjoy the occasion but make sure when the final whistle goes they have “no regrets”.

“In the first finals you are more nervous than the next one,” Guardiola explained. “I try to say to the players to play more like a friendly game to be more calm, but also with more courage.

“I think it’s a game we have to try to enjoy the most, it’s a final. We are here to play these types of game, why to be nervous? Why to worry about win, win, win. It’s just a game. But no regrets after the game. It’s too late for ‘I didn’t do what I should do’ because it’s a final.”

City come up against an Arsenal side with a formidable recent record at the national stadium. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has won on each of his last nine trips to Wembley when it’s been a neutral venue and since April 2014 has won three FA Cup semi-finals, three FA Cup finals and three Community Shields.

Wenger’s only defeat at the venue in recent year was against Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League game this season.

The Frenchman remains a divisive figure for Arsenal supporters some of whom are disillusioned with the club’s present capacity to challenge for the Premier League and in Europe under his stewardship. Guardiola, though, revealed his admiration for Wenger’s longevity with the Gunners.

“He’s special,” Guardiola said. “To be at Arsenal for a long time in the same place is because you are comfortable there, and the people are comfortable with you.

“If you are there for a long time it’s because you are good. It’s simple like that. Because you have passion and you are enjoying your job. When one manager is at a club for a long time you have success and do good things but in this game he is my rival.”

City are set to include Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus in their squad to face Arsenal after he returned to training following a knee injury sustained against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve.

His return in addition to Germany midfielder Leroy Sane’s comeback from an ankle injury ahead of schedule has lifted City’s squad.

“It is exciting to have both of them back,” Guardiola added. “I think they will be ready to play. They will be fit. Gabriel it is mentality and he is strong. He is a guy who will be ready. Leroy’s young and strong and he came back early.”