Marc Guehi Ruled Out of Man City Clash: The Shocking Reason Behind His Carabao Cup Semi-Final Ban
Manchester City stand on the verge of reaching the Carabao Cup final, though they must navigate the second leg against Newcastle United without central defender Marc Guéhi.
Pep Guardiola's squad enters the decisive leg of their semi-final clash holding a 2–0 advantage following Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki's strikes at St. James' Park three weeks prior. If they can match their previous display—or simply maintain their lead—at the Etihad, the Citizens will progress to the final for the first time in half a decade.
With City's aspirations of regaining the Premier League crown fading following their disastrous beginning to the campaign, capturing the Carabao Cup might represent their strongest opportunity for silverware this term. It would also prevent league-topping Arsenal, who have already secured their Wembley Stadium berth, from achieving the historic quadruple they pursue in 2025–26.
However, the Sky Blues face numerous injury concerns heading into the encounter and will also miss their promising new defensive acquisition on Wednesday.
Why Guéhi Play for Man City Against Newcastle
Why Guéhi Play for Man City Against Newcastle
Guéhi cannot feature for City in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals as he joined the club after the first leg had already taken place. The Citizens triumphed over the Magpies 2–0 on Tuesday, Jan. 13, while the England defender only finalized his move on Monday, Jan. 19.
This six-day gap rules Guéhi out of the decisive leg before their home supporters, dealing a significant setback to Guardiola's already weakened defensive line. The Spanish manager is missing the injured pair of Joško Gvardiol and John Stones, while Rúben Dias is unlikely to start after being sidelined for the previous month with a hamstring problem.
Guardiola will probably need to depend on the central defensive partnership of Nathan Aké and Abdukodir Khusanov. This pairing recently started against Galatasaray in the Champions League, helping City secure a clean sheet in their 2–0 victory.
The positive news for the home side is that fellow January acquisition Semenyo can feature on Wednesday since he completed his transfer to Manchester before the first leg; he also participated in the 2–0 triumph, making only his second appearance—and netting his second goal—that evening in Newcastle.
Can Guéhi Play in a Potential Carabao Cup Final for Man City?
Can Guéhi Play in a Potential Carabao Cup Final for Man City?
Should City overcome Newcastle and secure their final berth, they still cannot rely on Guéhi for the crucial showpiece.
The Carabao Cup final commences on Sunday, Mar. 22, almost four weeks before the Gunners visit the Etihad in Premier League action. A possible encounter between these two English powerhouses at Wembley would serve as the perfect prelude to what might be a championship-defining clash on Saturday, Apr. 18.
Guéhi will undoubtedly anchor Guardiola's defense for that league fixture, but he can only observe as his new teammates strive to claim their ninth Carabao Cup trophy.