Caraboa Cup preview: Manchester Derby semi-final

The Manchester sides have to play each other tonight to face Tottenham in the final.

Pep Guardiola hoping Man City win a fourth successive Carabao Cup [Getty]

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has guided his team for the last three years in a row to the final of the Caraboa Cup. However, tonight his team will play against Manchester United who are joint-top of the league with Liverpool with a game in hand.

Guardiola highlighted the significance COVID-19 has had on his team and claimed that Manchester City "don't have many players" for tonight's semi-final. Manchester City had six players absent from Sunday's match with Chelsea, despite winning 3-1.

Just this morning Manchester City confirmed that more players and a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. This included Scott Carson and academy player Cole Palmer.

Kyle Walker was seen back at training yesterday, as him and Gabriel Jesus have completed the 10-day self isolation period. However, Manchester City face difficulties due to injuries which includes players Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Sergio Aguero, who Guardiola claimed that they had to be 'careful' with him due to past injuries.

Whereas for Manchester United, Edinson Cavani is the only absent player for tonight's match due to suspension. In addition, Phil Jones is the only other first-team player out injured.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on winning his first trophy as Man Utd boss.

Prior to last month's goalless draw, Solskjaer's side have won three times against Man City.

Solskjaer recently said that his team "have developed a lot in the last 12 months from last season's EFL Cup semi-final."

"It is not just a case of learning how to win them, it is earning the right to go all the way. But we are confident and we are in good form. There are no excuses."

Tonight's winning team of the Carobao Cup semi-final, played over one leg, will meet Tottenham in the final in April after Mourinho's men defeated Brentford 2-0 last night.

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