Pep Guardiola has called for the EFL to change Carabao Cup rules preventing Marc Guehi from playing in the final against Arsenal. The £20m defender is cup-tied despite joining after City’s semi-final first leg, while teammate Antoine Semenyo remains eligible. According to Skysports.com.
Guardiola challenges EFL over Guehi’s Carabao Cup final eligibility
Manchester City’s manager has expressed his frustration with new Carabao Cup regulations that prevent Marc Guehi from featuring in the March 22 Wembley final. The £20m centre-back is ineligible because he joined from Crystal Palace after City’s semi-final first leg against Newcastle, despite the club’s 5-1 aggregate victory setting up the Arsenal showdown.
Carabao Cup rules implemented for the first time this season state that players signed after the semi-final first leg cannot participate in the remainder of the competition. Guardiola told Sky Sports he cannot “understand” the regulation and “hopes” City will write to the EFL appealing for his defender’s availability.
The situation becomes more complex given that Antoine Semenyo, who City signed for £62.5m from Bournemouth before the semi-final first leg, remains eligible for the final. Both players had previously featured in the competition for their former clubs, with Guehi playing in each of Palace’s three ties including their quarter-final defeat to Arsenal.
Sky Sports pundit Shay Given described the scenario as “farcical”, arguing that either both players should be cup-tied or available for the final. Given stated that Semenyo can “get his hands on the trophy” next month while Guehi, who joined just ten days later, cannot participate in the Wembley showpiece.
Guardiola emphasised his bewilderment at the regulation, questioning why a player “who belongs to us” after the club made a “big investment” cannot feature in the final. The City boss expressed hope that officials will “understand” and consider changing the rule before the March 22 encounter with Arsenal.
