Man City boss Pep Guardiola has called for a change to the rules of the Carabao Cup to allow Marc Guehi to play in the final.
City have set up a Wembley showdown with Arsenal for the trophy after thumping Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in their semi-final. However, new signing Guehi isn’t eligible to play in the final as he was bought from Crystal Palace after the first leg of the semis.
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Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge explains why Marc Guehi is cup tied for Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Carabao Cup rules – implemented for the first time this season – state if a player is signed after the first leg of the semi-final that he is ineligible to play in the remainder of the competition.
Guardiola says he cannot “understand” the rule and “hopes” City write to the EFL to appeal for his £20m defender to be available to face Arsenal on March 22.
Guehi has previously featured in the competition for Crystal Palace this season, playing in each of their three ties, including the quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.
“Hopefully in March, we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc Guehi can play in the final,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “Because it’s difficult to understand that the club who make a big investment to pay one player who belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play the final.
“So, hopefully we write a letter, and hopefully the Carabao Cup can understand. He’s not able to play for a rule that I don’t understand why. Hopefully, they can change it.”
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Highlights of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg match between Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Antoine Semenyo, who City signed for £62.5m from Bournemouth before the semi-final first-leg with Newcastle will be available to play in the final.
Sky Sports pundit Shay Given called the situation “farcical” and said it was unfair for Semenyo to have a shot at lifting the trophy when he signed just 10 days before Guehi, arguing either both players should be cup-tied or available for the final.
“I don’t think Semenyo should be allowed to play either,” said Given. “Once you play in the competition, you shouldn’t be allowed to play [again for another team]. He should be cup-tied like it’s always been.
“But it’s one rule for Semenyo and one rule for Guehi.
“If Guehi has played already for Palace, the same as Semenyo has already played for Bournemouth, he should be allowed to play in the final [like Semenyo].
Antoine Semenyo is eligible to play in the competition for City
“Next month, Semenyo can get his hands on the trophy, Guehi, joins a week later, can’t. I don’t want to use the word farcical – but I’ve used it!”
However, Micah Richards added: “Rules are rules. I understand Pep’s frustrations because you’ve just spent all that money on a player and you want him to play. But rules are rules.”
What does Man City’s schedule look prior to the Carabao Cup final?
Man City will face Premier League title rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22, live on Sky Sports, for the chance to win the first piece of silverware this season – but what is City’s fixture schedule like in the lead up to that show-piece event?
- Feb 28: Leeds (a) – Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm – live on Sky Sports
- March 4: Nottingham Forest (h) – Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm
- March 10/11: TBC – Champions League last 16, 8pm
- March 14: West Ham (a) – Premier League, kick-off 12.30pm
- March 17/18: TBC – Champions League last 16, 8pm