Pep Guardiola
Manchester City is set to request permission from the Football League to allow new signing Marc Guehi to participate in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. The current regulations render the defender ineligible, as he was not signed in time to play in the semi-final’s first leg against Newcastle United. This situation has left City manager Pep Guardiola perplexed, given that another recent signing, Antoine Semenyo, was able to play and score in the semi-final after joining earlier.
Pep Guardiola said: “Hopefully in March, we can arrive with the player’s fit and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc Guehi can play in the final 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.”
Guardiola continued: “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) that Marc can play the final. I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. Hopefully we make a letter. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don’t understand. Hopefully they can change it. You hire a player and he can be disposed the next day. Hopefully we can convince the biggest teams. It is difficult to understand.”
He added: “Apparently Marc cannot play the second leg because he didn’t play the first. And Antoine arrived before the first so could play. And now it’s the final. Why should he (Guehi) not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player. It’s like the Champions League, the last two games cannot play. I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final in March, when I have been here for a long time. The rules to buy a player depends on FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League who say, okay the transfer window is open, when you buy a player you have to play, no? It’s logic. Of course we are going to try to ask [for] him to play. Pure logic.”
The issue stems from the timing of Guehi’s transfer, which occurred after the registration deadline for the semi-final’s first leg. As a result, he is unable to participate in the final, despite being a key acquisition for the club. Guardiola’s frustration highlights the complexities and sometimes contradictory nature of football regulations, especially in cup competitions. Manchester City hopes that by appealing to the EFL, they can secure Guehi’s eligibility for the final, allowing them to field their best squad against Arsenal.
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