Pep Guardiola's Desperate Plea for Carabao Cup Final Rule Change Falls on Deaf Ears

Pep Guardiola is pushing for the EFL to modify Carabao Cup regulations to allow Manchester City defender Marc Guéhi to participate in next month's final, though his request is unlikely to be granted.

Guéhi remains ineligible as his signing occurred after the semi-final first leg had taken place. The £20 million ($27.2 million) acquisition from Crystal Palace was unable to feature in this week's 3–1 victory against Newcastle United and will be barred from the Arsenal clash at Wembley.

However, with the EFL eliminating cup-tied regulations this season—previously preventing players from representing multiple clubs in one tournament—Antoine Semenyo can participate, having joined City prior to the semi-final stage. Guardiola expressed confusion about why Guéhi's situation differs, considering the club covers his wages.

"Hopefully we can persuade the Carabao Cup authorities that Marc should be permitted to play the final. I cannot comprehend why he's excluded," Guardiola commented after confirming City's advancement to their first Wembley final in five years.

"You purchase a player for substantial money yet he cannot participate due to a regulation I find incomprehensible. Hopefully they'll reconsider. Antoine arrived before the first [leg] so was eligible. Now it's the final. Why shouldn't [Guéhi] participate? We cover his wages, he belongs to us."

Who Will Play Instead of Guéhi in Carabao Cup Final?

Who Will Play Instead of Guéhi in Carabao Cup Final?

Guardiola mentioned instructing Manchester City executives they "must inquire" about Guéhi's final eligibility—"it's basic reasoning" to make the attempt.

However, he appeared already prepared for disappointment from the EFL, and Martyn Ziegler of The Times subsequently confirmed that the EFL won't modify regulations already loosened this season, meaning City's appeals will likely be ignored.

This ensures that Guéhi, who featured for the opposing Crystal Palace team that defeated City in last season's FA Cup final, will merely observe the Arsenal encounter beneath the iconic arch.

The England defender has become an instant regular for his new team in Premier League action, completing full matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur alongside promising young Uzbekistan talent Abdukodir Khusanov. During Wednesday's Carabao Cup match, Nathan Aké, whose minutes are carefully managed due to fitness concerns, partnered Khusanov instead.

Aké was substituted at the interval by 20-year-old Max Alleyne, who returned from his Watford loan last month to address the squad's defensive shortage. Meanwhile, Rúben Dias returned to the substitutes' bench following his recovery from the hamstring problem that sidelined him for a month.

By the March 22 final, Dias should be fully prepared to partner Khusanov, barring any fitness complications.

Guéhi to Make Champions League Debut in March

Guéhi to Make Champions League Debut in March

While Guéhi appears unlikely to feature in Manchester City's Carabao Cup campaign this season, his Champions League debut is now approaching.

After the league phase conclusion, knockout stage participants can make up to three modifications to their 'A' list squads registered with UEFA in September. This permits January acquisitions—including Guéhi and Semenyo—to be added for the tournament's latter stages.

Semenyo, though immediately available for Carabao Cup duty, was forced to miss the final two league phase matches against Bødo/Glimt and Galatasaray due to his absence from the UEFA roster.

Both Guéhi and Semenyo will become available when City face Real Madrid, Benfica, Bødo/Glimt or Inter in the round of 16, commencing March 10.

Both players lack Champions League experience, with Semenyo's progression through England's lower divisions meaning he has yet to sample European competition at any level.

Guéhi experienced his initial UEFA competition during Crystal Palace's Conference League run earlier this season, though he remained an unused substitute for a Champions League match when Chelsea lost to Valencia at Stamford Bridge in September 2019.