London (AFP)

If the title of champion of England seems irretrievably lost, Manchester City will be keen to keep the two national cups it holds, starting with the League Cup for which it will challenge United in the semi-final on Tuesday.

The "Carabao Cup", named after the Thai energy drink that has given its name to the competition since 2017, is the least prestigious of the three trophies that the Citizens are still aiming for this season, along with the English Cup and the Champions League.

But a success in the final next March 1, against Aston Villa or Leicester, who face each other for the other half, with a first leg in Leicester on Wednesday, would put Pep Guardiola's team back in a dynamic of success.

From this point of view, facing Manchester United in the semifinals is also a real test since the defeat in the league (2-1) at home against the Red Devils, a month to the day before the first leg, had seriously dented their dreams Premier League treble.

"The match will be fairly similar," said Pep Guardiola, whose team had been overwhelmed by the speed of United's attacking transitions, especially in the first half.

"Obviously it will be different at Old Trafford, but it is a team made to run. When they can run, it is one of the best teams and not only of England", he added, quoting the offensive arrows such as Daniel James, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial or Jesse Lingard.

"We have to be prepared for this and limit the number of construction errors," he warned, adding that City will also have to rely on the second period when it s 'was created number of occasions.

"I'm not just going to prepare for the match by saying + don't let them run +. We have to go there to try to score and come back with a good result."

But the Red Devils have always responded present at major events - they beat Chelsea, Leicester, Tottenham, City and were the only team to keep Liverpool in check in the league - and are not lacking in ambition either.

"We always want to win trophies and we're so close to it now," said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who hopes his team will show the same face as Etihad.

"When we reach such a level, I'm sure that (the players) will think about it again and say to themselves + it's the Man United that we want to see +, but we can still improve," assured the Norwegian.

They could however be deprived of their central defender Harry Maguire, affected in the match for the third round of the FA against Wolverhampton (0-0), Saturday, which will have to be replayed.

Program of the English League Cup semi-finals (in French hours):

Tuesday:

(9:00 p.m.) Manchester United - Manchester City

Return match on January 29

Wednesday:

(9:00 p.m.) Leicester - Aston Villa

Return match on January 28

© 2020 AFP