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Pep: Why I ‘prefer’ to be in this position than Liverpool’s

Pep Guardiola is prepared for a fixture pile-up as Manchester City pursue glory on all fronts.

City switch their attention from their pursuit of Premier League leaders Liverpool to domestic cup football in the coming days.

Guardiola’s side host Championship Rotherham in the FA Cup third round on Sunday before the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against League One Burton on Wednesday.

These competitions rank lower than the Premier League, or the Champions League which resumes next month, but Guardiola does not want to give them up, even if it makes for a tough schedule.

The City boss said: “I would like to have two months’ holiday right now, definitely – this month is really tough, but it is what it is.

“We want to become a top club and you cannot deny any game, we cannot drop any competition.

“We are going to play the next game like a final, knowing we will go through in the second most important competition in England, but I don’t think about it too much.

“Of course Liverpool are out of the Carabao Cup, so they have more time to prepare for the Premier League, but (for us) it is what it is. I prefer to be in this position. We have a big enough squad.”