MANCHESTER City can look forward to defending the League Cup in next month’s final at Wembley as Gabriel Jesus struck four goals in a 9-0 thrashing of Burton Albion in their semifinal, first leg Wednesday.

Kevin de Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez were also on target against Nigel Clough’s League One side as City players ensured their visit to the Pirelli Stadium on Jan. 23 is a mere formality.

“Of course we are already in the final. We have to play second leg and we will take it seriously. Happy to be in the final again,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.

“It’s not easy to play this kind of game. We spoke (before the game) to take it seriously, we started well.”

After also thrashing Rotherham 7-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday with a much-changed side, Guardiola was able to again hand a rest to a number of his key players but named a strong side with De Bruyne continuing his comeback from injury.

And the Belgian set the tone for the evening by heading City into a fifth-minute lead as he timed his run into the box perfectly to head home David Silva’s cross.

Clough admitted before the game it would take a “miracle” for Burton to blunt the Premier League champions’ might over two legs.(SD-Agencies)