Josep Guardiola has slammed Carabao Cup rules that could cost him the final against Arsenal
Josep Guardiola will be without Marc Gehi when Man City take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Manager Josep Guardiola was furious after Marc Guehy was left out of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. City take on the Gunners at Wembley Stadium this Sunday, with both teams looking to win their first silver medal of the season.
The match is an interesting prospect given that Arsenal lead by nine points and both clubs are still in the race for the Premier League title this season. Guardiola’s side will also have to deal with the mental blow of being knocked out of the Champions League after a crushing defeat to Real Madrid in the last 16 in midweek, while Mikel Arteta’s side reached the quarter-finals.
Guardiola may also feel his team will go into the cup final at a disadvantage as central defender Marc Guehi will be unavailable for the 4.30pm match against North Londoners due to EFL regulations. Guehi had already played for the Eagles in December, when they faced Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition, and was signed from Crystal Palace in January.
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Under the Carabao Cup rules introduced for the first time this season, if a player is signed after the first semi-final match, he will not be eligible to play in the remaining tournaments.
Guardiola, who famously won the competition four years in a row, objected to the rule in February. Speaking after City qualified for the final, the manager said it was “incomprehensible” and said he wanted City to write to the EFL so they could sign the £20m defender to face Arsenal.
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He said: “Hopefully in March the players will arrive in good condition and I hope Marc Guehi can convince the Carabao Cup that he can play in the final. Because it’s difficult to understand that a club that has invested a lot of money would pay one player for us and I don’t understand why he can’t play in the final.”
“So let’s write a letter if we can, and hope the Carabao Cup understands. He can’t play with rules he doesn’t know why. Hopefully they can change it.”
Guehi captained Crystal Palace in their defeat to Arsenal in December (Image: Getty Images)
However, City’s appeal ultimately failed and Guardiola was forced to turn to other options. With Josko Gvardiol injured, Guardiola still has Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Abdukkodir Kusanov available.
Arteta last lifted the trophy in 2021, while Arsenal’s last success in this competition was in 1993. Arteta only won the FA Cup in his first year in charge and will be hoping to claim his second silver medal since taking charge of the Gunners.
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