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MANCHESTER — Pep Guardiola has urged the Manchester United board to have patience with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because it is only now that the Norwegian is seeing his team play the way he wants.
Manchester United and Manchester City meet in their Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday and ahead of the tie, Guardiola has asked that Solskjaer, who has come under pressure following a mixed start to the season, be given more time after just a year in charge.
“I think he starts to see his team what he wanted,” Guardiola told a news conference on Monday.
“That is my feeling when I see his teams. Even the last game against Arsenal that they lost, but we see clearly what he wants.
“It was not easy to handle a team, take over a big, big club always demanding to be champions in all competitions but I think every manager needs time and I have the feeling that United starts to play the way he wants.”
City are looking to avenge the 2-1 derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium and take a step towards a third successive League Cup final.
Guardiola has Ederson and Nicolas Otamendi available again after illness while Ayermic Laporte is nearing a return to action following more than four months out with a knee injury.
“I have an idea of the way I want to play but I am not 100 percent sure of the guys who play,” Guardiola added.
“Everyone, apart from Leroy [Sane] everyone is in the training session. Nico [Otamendi] is back so we have almost the full squad for this period.
“Of course the cup, the opponent we played, especially the incredible amount of games some players have in the legs, they should be rested for the previous games.
“It is not the biggest competition in the world but it is nice to be there again and against our city opponents so it is nice to here.”