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Guardiola Fights Rule Blocking Player from Cup Final
5 Feb
Summary
- Pep Guardiola questions rule preventing player's final participation.
- Player joined City after semi-final first leg, making him ineligible.
- Manchester City will formally ask the EFL to reconsider the rule.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has voiced his opposition to a specific EFL rule that will prevent new signing Marc Guéhi from participating in the upcoming Carabao Cup final. The team secured their place in the final after a 3-1 second-leg victory against Newcastle, completing a 5-1 aggregate win. Guéhi, who joined City on January 19th for £20m, is ineligible because he had already played for Crystal Palace earlier in the competition. EFL Cup rule 6.4.2 stipulates that a player can only represent two clubs in the trophy if they join the second club before the semi-final first leg. Guardiola expressed his intention for the club to formally ask the Football League to reconsider this rule, questioning the logic behind it. Despite his doubts about changing the rule, he emphasized the team's excitement for the final, especially for players experiencing it for the first time with the club.
The semi-final saw City score three goals in the first half, with Omar Marmoush netting twice and Tijjani Reijnders scoring once. Newcastle managed a consolation goal from Anthony Elanga. This result ended Newcastle's Carabao Cup defense, leaving manager Eddie Howe disappointed. Howe also confirmed that Anthony Gordon was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury, a significant concern for the team. Additionally, Bernardo Silva is a doubt for City's upcoming match against Liverpool due to a muscle injury.
