The first major trophy of the 2025-26 English football season is up for grabs on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal and City go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium.
Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their previous six meetings with City and won on penalties in the Community Shield in August 2023 when the sides last met at Wembley.
However, Guardiola is a four-time winner of the EFL Cup and could become the first manager to conquer the tournament on five occasions.
Trafford will start in goal
He first spoke on James Trafford, who will start the game ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, after comments that he was disappointed not to feature more for the side.
“(It is a) big moment for the team.”
“Good. Nothing to say. Players can be happy or unhappy; it is what it is. We have to do our best when they do, and afterwards we have to see what happens at the end of the season.”
He also stated that he is “beyond” happy with how Trafford has been performing.
Could Arsenal win the quadruple?
Arsenal are top of the Premier League and remain in all four competitions this season. If they lift the EFL Cup, then their chances of winning the quadruple rise.
Guardiola praised the North London side, who reached the Champions League quarter-final earlier this week after they beat Bayer Leverkusen.
“They control many things and many aspects of the game, (and) the spirit for many years not winning make that boost and the solidarity in other aspects.
“They control when they defend deep, when they hide, build-up, long balls, second balls, so many good things.
“In the Champions League, they won all their games in the group stage and just drew against Leverkusen, so it will be a big challenge to see our level.
Their quadruple hopes: “For them, yes, because they are in four titles.”