Guardiola Vows to Challenge Cup Final Eligibility Rules for Marc Guehi
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City will formally request special permission from the Football League to allow defender Marc Guehi to feature in the upcoming Carabao Cup final, despite current regulations rendering the England international ineligible. The announcement follows City's comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United, which secured their place at Wembley for a showdown with Arsenal on March 22nd.
Frustration on the Sidelines as City Progress
While City breezed to a 3-1 second-leg win at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, completing their semi-final triumph, Guehi was forced to watch from the sidelines. The January signing from Crystal Palace was ruled ineligible because he joined the club after the first leg of the tie had already been played. This same regulation will also bar him from participating in the final next month, a situation Guardiola finds illogical and intends to contest.
"Why should he not play? Why not?" Guardiola passionately questioned after the match. "He's our player, we pay his salary, we hired him. We want to ask. I said to the club we have to ask definitely. I don't understand the reason why he cannot play in the final of the Carabao Cup in March when he has been here a long time."
A Formal Request Driven by "Pure Logic"
The City manager acknowledged that overturning the established rule is highly unlikely, but insisted the club will make its case regardless. "Of course we are going to ask because it's pure logic," Guardiola stated. "(But) to change the rule, no way. But we will try." His comments highlight a growing frustration with cup competition regulations that can exclude key players based on technicalities of transfer timing rather than their current club status.
Marmoush Shines in Haaland's Absence
On the pitch, the night belonged to forward Omar Marmoush, who stepped up brilliantly in the absence of the benched Erling Haaland. The Egyptian international scored two first-half goals inside 35 minutes, with Tijjani Reijnders adding a third to effectively kill the tie before half-time. Anthony Elanga's 62nd-minute consolation for Newcastle did little to trouble City's procession to Wembley.
Guardiola was full of praise for Marmoush's impactful performance. "He gives us a special quality," the manager said. "His pace, his moments in behind, and his work ethic." The victory extends Manchester City's remarkable record of appearing at Wembley at least once every season since the 2010-11 campaign.
Howe's Newcastle Left to Rue Disastrous Start
For Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, the evening was one of profound disappointment. Already trailing 2-0 from the first leg, his team needed a fast start but instead collapsed defensively, conceding three early goals that ended the contest as a meaningful competition.
"(I was) really annoyed with the first half display," a frustrated Howe admitted. "We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us. That first half we weren't good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems."
To compound Newcastle's misery, winger Anthony Gordon was forced off before half-time with a suspected hamstring injury. "It looks like a hamstring problem," Howe confirmed. "I don't quite know how bad it was but it was enough for him to come off so that's a big worry."
As Manchester City prepare for another Wembley final, the spotlight now turns to their administrative battle with the Football League. While Guardiola's challenge may be symbolic, it underscores ongoing debates about player eligibility and the fairness of cup competition rules in modern football.
