Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his squad are in a better place than a year ago as they look to reach the Carabao cup final.
The Red Devils welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford for a derby encounter on Wednesday, a semi-final that will be a one-legged affair.
Solskjaer saw his team dismantled by City at this stage of the competition 12 months ago; a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in the first leg was a football lesson.
United have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions since their exit from the Champions League at the hands of RB Leipzig in December.
It's a run that has propelled the Red Devils to joint top of the Premier League, and Solskjaer knows now is not a time for renewed inconsistency.
"It's always a good question - how important is it? Very! The next game is always important, but of course, a semi-final is a chance to get to the final, to get your hands on a trophy in the next round. For this team, it would be a very big step, getting your hands on a trophy.
"We have developed a lot in the last twelve months from our last semi in the Carabao cup. It's not just learning to win semis; we've also earned the right to feel we can go all the way with our performances. We are confident, we are going into the game in good form, so there are no excuses."
United will be without the suspended Edinson Cavani for the encounter.
Norwegian Solskjaer is looking to win his first trophy as United boss and he feels his men are better equipped to deal with the challenge of City than before, with last month's goalless draw against the Sky Blues in the top flight on his mind.
"Some of our counter-attacking goals in the wins that we've had have been brilliant. We've had less control of the ball and we've defended fantastically. I think the last game (against City) was more or less 50-50 in possession, a more cagey game from both teams, but still, I felt that was a progression. You know you have got to defend really well against Man City, no matter what. It's hard to keep the ball in their half when they've got it because they find a way of overloading.
"You have got to be brave, be compact, trust your players - then again when we have the ball, we've got to be able to keep it as well and play out of their press. We've found that balance - we didn't have the X factor the last game - I feel that we have gotten closer and closer and results, sometimes you can't control."
The winners will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Brentford in the decider.
