Guardiola: We are only focused on Wolves - not the FA Cup final | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says reaching the FA Cup final cannot become a distraction with so much hard work still to do in the Premier League.

The Blues are embroiled in a six-club tussle for the four remaining Champions League places, with leaders Liverpool already assured a place.

The boss was asked several questions about the FA Cup final and the potential availability of his players – or even possible team selection options – at his Thursday press conference ahead of our game against Wolves.

But he stressed those questions and thoughts are for another day – not 24 hours before a crucial home game.

“Now we can't be distracted for anything else,” said Pep.

“It’s Wolves, Wolves and Wolves. The rest we have time to think about it and day by day, see in the training sessions, [and speak with the] the physios, doctors.

“Now, it’s a final every single game. We make an incredible effort. The last eight games unbeaten since Nottingham Forest away, we make just two draws against United and Brighton.

“I’m pretty sure all of them want to play [in the final. When you reach a final of the FA Cup, everyone wants to be involved.

“It depends how they feel and how they recover. Now it's a period we have to have certainty. It’s not already qualified here.

“What we are going to say is we are going to make the right decisions.”

The boss was also asked about Abdukodir Khusanov, who hasn’t featured since the quarter-final tie with Bournemouth.

Guardiola explained the team has found a good balance, and that the young Uzbek’s time will come.

Explaining his substitution at Bournemouth – and how Nico O’Reilly has not put a foot wrong since, he said: “One reason was Khusanov had a yellow card, and I didn’t want to take a risk. We want to push a little bit for the left.

“In that moment I didn’t think that Nico would play the minutes he was going to play and Josko come into the middle.

“In that moment it’s true we have injuries and of course we have Vitor [Reis] and Khusanov, but they are so young in that moment.

“But that proved that don’t take for granted your position in the starting XI and don’t take for granted you will play tomorrow.

“If you tell me I say many times, in the decisive part of the season to qualify for the Champions League [we are] going to play Matheus or Nico all the time in those positions and just stay in the middle, we say it’s not possible.

“It happened because they are playing good and stable. We have a good process and the combination for all of them it suits.

“That's the only reason why. Now reflect why Nico play in November, December, January, February or McAtee doesn’t play November, December, January, February or didn’t play much?

“Why should you do it Pep they have done it? In that moment I thought maybe they weren't ready. Maybe they were. Now look what happened, they’re ready, that’s’ why they play.”

Asked whether Josko Gvardiol’s long term future is likely to be at centre-back, the boss added: “Yes. He can play both perfectly. But in centre back he's doing less mistakes and day before, month before much, much more solid and stable and of course he can play there. Definitely.

“He proved he can do it.”

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