Pep Guardiola claimed it was too early to start thinking about winning the Carabao Cup for a third successive year, but his side showed few signs of weakness as they brushed aside Southampton 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Sergio Aguero marked his 350th City appearance with a brace after Nicolas Otamendi opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium.
Though the Saints showed some fight only days after their 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Leicester, getting a goal back through Jack Stephens, they were always second best in a game where City enjoyed 77 per cent possession.
But though few would bet against City in a competition in which they have not lost in over three years, 14 games and counting, Guardiola said he and his players are not yet thinking about a three-peat.
As United travel to Chelsea, much has changed for both sides since the Red Devils opened the season with a 4-0 rout of Frank Lampard's side at Old Trafford.
While United have won only four of 13 games since, Lampard's side go into the game having won seven in a row in all competitions.
The draw for the quarter-finals will follow on Thursday morning, after which Guardiola may or may not allow himself to think about another trip to Wembley in March.
