Guardiola treating Manchester cup clash 'like a final'

Pep Guardiola plans changes to his starting XI when Manchester City visits Manchester United in Wednesday's EFL Cup bout, but insists the club is treating it "like a final."

The Spaniard will renew hostilities with Jose Mourinho for the second time this season after a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in September, and vows to give the occasion the respect it deserves.

"I think everyone can believe this competition is not the big one but I am going to prepare to win the game," Guardiola told Sky Sports' Paul Vinnell.

"For the players who play, we'll be depending on them to make the best performance possible. It is a final."

There have been some pulsating encounters between the rivals in this competition in the past, the most recent coming in a two-legged semi-final sparring in 2010. Both meetings were charged affairs, with Wayne Rooney's stoppage-time winner in Stretford bagging a 4-3 aggregate win for United.

Guardiola added: "I don't understand my job if I play a game thinking another game is more important - this is the most important."

He did concede, however, that the upcoming matches against West Bromwich Albion and Barcelona dictate his selection policy.

Largely untried youngsters Angelino, Aleix Garcia, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Brahim Diaz were involved in the previous round's 2-1 victory at Swansea City, but Guardiola is unlikely to be as generous to the kids this time around.

"To put three, four, or five young players in at the same time is not good in that moment because you have to protect them," he said.