As Manchester City gets ready to play Championship underdogs Plymouth in the FA Cup this weekend, Pep Guardiola has given his team a harsh warning, stressing that any show of complacency might result in a major upset.

 This season, the Pilgrims have already surprised everyone by eliminating Brentford and a depleted Liverpool.  When they play in the fifth round, Guardiola is anxious to make sure his team doesn’t suffer another unexpected loss.

Even though they dominate English football, City is having a difficult season.  The FA Cup offers a vital chance for redemption because they are no longer in the running for the Premier League title and their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League have been dashed.

 “They’re cunning.  They may not have the same level of individual talent as Premier League sides, but they are excellent at what they do.  Trouble arises when people give it their all and perform better than we do.  If we’re not ready, tomorrow won’t be any different,” Guardiola said.

This game gives City the opportunity to go to the FA Cup quarterfinals again, something they are keen to do.

 Under new head coach Miron Muslic, Plymouth’s fortunes have improved since Wayne Rooney was fired as manager on New Year’s Eve, bringing the team closer to Championship safety.  Muslic has presided over outstanding wins over Premier League teams, including triumphs over league leaders Liverpool in earlier cup rounds.

“It’s not just against Liverpool; they’ve shown consistency across various matches,” Guardiola said of Plymouth’s previous efforts.  They are aggressive in offense and have amazing mobility, and their defensive organization is superb.  We’re expecting a difficult task.

 Former official Brugge Muslic has praised Guardiola as a football “giant” and views playing against him as a privilege that will last a lifetime.  “I have an amazing bottle of wine for him post-game thanks to those kind words,” Guardiola said in response.  Meeting him tomorrow is a true honor for me.

The fact that City is awaiting the outcome of an impartial commission on claims of violations of more than 100 Premier League financial rules has added to the tension leading up to the match.  This week, new accusations emerged when La Liga president Javier Tebas said City is involved in a financial scandal similar to Enron, allegedly using outside companies to falsify expenses.  LaLiga has informed the European Commission about the situation.