"I don't understand": Guardiola confirms 25yo Man City star is ruled out of Arsenal game
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that centre-back Marc Guehi is ineligible to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium in March.
The Cityzens booked their spot in the League Cup final against the Gunners after a convincing 5-1 aggregate win over holders Newcastle United.
There will be a repeat of the 2018 final next month, but Man City will be without the services of Guehi, who was not registered before the competition’s deadline.
The EFL permit players to feature for two separate teams this campaign, but must be registered before the conclusion of the winter transfer window or the first leg of the semi-final, whichever is sooner.
Man City played their first leg of their semi-final against the Magpies on January 13. With Guehi having only arrived on January 19, he is not eligible to play in the League Cup final.
This was the reason behind Guehi’s absence in the second leg last night. Speaking after the 3-1 win, Guardiola said that he cannot understand the rule preventing Guehi’s inclusion.
The Spanish tactician said that the Cityzens will try to convince the EFL to allow Guehi to play in the final.
He told BBC Sport: “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc [Guehi] can play the final. I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. 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.”
“The rules to buy a player depends on FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League who say, OK 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.”
Guehi set to miss Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal
The 25-year-old signed for the Cityzens from Crystal Palace for a bargain fee of £20 million this winter.
He has been an immediate starter for Man City in the Premier League, but has not featured in any other competition. The centre-back will be registered for the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Guardiola would ideally want him in the starting XI for the Carabao Cup final too, but the competition’s rules set for the season clearly state that the Englishman is ineligible to face the Gunners next month.
The Man City manager has obviously talked about ‘pure logic’ to allow him to play, but the EFL are unlikely to bend their rules for them. Still, the Cityzens could have a strong central defensive pairing.
Ruben Dias was back in the matchday squad yesterday after a hamstring injury. The Portuguese’s fitness could be built up over the coming weeks in order to start against the Gunners on March 22.
Abdukodir Khusanov has fared well in the injury absence of Dias and Josko Gvardiol of late. Guardiola could also call up Nathan Ake to partner Dias in the Wembley showdown next month.
Hence, Arsenal face a tough challenge in the League Cup final and must play at their best to secure their first silverware under manager Mikel Arteta since the 2020 FA Cup final vs Chelsea.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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