Pep Guardiola said his Manchester City side "don't have a chance" against bitter rivals Manchester United this weekend if they play as they did in their Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat by Southampton.
The Citizens were stunned by the Premier League basement dwellers at St Mary's on Wednesday night after Sekou Mara opened the scoring for the Saints and Moussa Djenepo made it two in five first-half minutes.
Guardiola brought on his big guns after the break, with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland taking to the field on the south coast, but City - who have won the competition four times under their Spanish boss - were unable to get back in the game.
Guardiola is now looking ahead to the Manchester derby at Old Trafford this Saturday but fears his side could taste defeat again.
"If we perform in this way, we don't have a chance," Guardiola said after the Saints loss.
"The better team won. We didn't play good, we didn't play well in the beginning. There are many games you can start not good and overcome and we didn't do it.
"When you are not prepared to play this game you arrive one inch late and don't score a goal. When you are prepared you score the goal.
"Today was a bad night, the opponent was better so we have to congratulate them. To win games you have to deserve it and tonight we didn't deserve it."
Guardiola said he was ready to spring a surprise on United before the defeat by Southampton, admitting he could try something "ridiculous".
"I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players quite similar because I have a few ideas, thoughts, ridiculous ones against United," he said.
Whether the Spaniard sticks to this plan following a frustrating night in the Carabao Cup remains to be seen as his City side prepares to face a confident Man United.
Erik ten Hag's outfit beat Charlton 3-0 in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, setting up a last-four clash with Nottingham Forest.
