OXFORD United's players and staff are excited by the prospect of getting a second crack at Manchester City in just over a year.

Pep Guardiola's Premier League champions were handed a trip to the Kassam Stadium in this morning's Carabao Cup quarter-final draw.

It is the second successive season they have faced the U's, having won a third round tie 3-0 in September 2018.

Shandon Baptiste captained the side that night and cannot wait to come up against City again.

He said: "They’re the Premier League champions, so you can’t get any better than that. I’m looking forward to it and excited.

"That day was special for me.

"Hopefully we can go one better and beat them to get through to the semi-finals."

The repeat fixture means it lacked the novelty of facing one of the other big sides in the draw, or the increased chance of going through if they had been paired with Colchester United.

But U's skipper John Mousinho reckons it will not have been particularly welcomed at the Etihad.

He said: "It will be not just a tough game, but the toughest game we could probably get.

"We looked the other night and I think they made nine changes and ended up with Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus up front. That’s the calibre of side we’re coming up against.

"Having said that if I was in the City camp I probably wouldn’t have wanted to go away to Oxford.

"I’m sure they will get over it and be raring to go, but I don’t think that was the draw they wanted, so we’ve got to take advantage of that and the fact it’s a home draw.

"They have a Champions League game the week before, then Arsenal on the Sunday night.

"There’s plenty of positives we can take from it and at the end of the day we’re playing Man City, probably one of the best sides in the world.

"What a brilliant opportunity for everyone at the club."

Last season's encounter with Guardiola made a big impression on head coach Karl Robinson.

He said: "I think he’s the best manager in the world.

"He taught me a lot last time, first and foremost the humility he carries is remarkable.

"The attention to detail to a team he’s probably never heard of, but his hunger to win blew me away.

"I was walking through the corridor afterwards with my daughter and the time he gave to her and the general way he was around the building (was impressive).

"I think they left with a victory, but to me they also left with something bigger – class.

"You just think to yourself, if you got there, that’s how you’d want champions to conduct yourself.

"It’s something that really resonated with me that day."

He added: "We know it will be an almost impossible task, but it doesn’t mean you don’t think you can win.

"Without the hope it’s pointless even turning up.

"It’s the equivalent of fighting the heavyweight champion of the world with both your arms tied behind your back in the hope he wears himself out and falls over.

"We know how hard it’s going to be, but again it’s a fantastic opportunity for the people of Oxfordshire to see the best players and see the stadium full.

"It’s a great time to be a part of the club."