Pep Guardiola wants permission for Marc Guehi to play in League Cup final

LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will ask the English Football League for permission to play Marc Guehi in the League Cup final against Arsenal, even though the England defender is ineligible for the Wembley showdown.

Guehi, signed from Crystal Palace in January, was forced to watch from the sidelines as City beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the semi-final, second leg on Feb 4.

City’s 5-1 aggregate victory set up a date with English Premier League leaders Arsenal in the final on March 22, but centre-back Guehi is not currently allowed to feature in the showpiece.

Unlike Antoine Semenyo, who also arrived at City in January from Bournemouth, Guehi is ineligible to play in the League Cup this season because he joined after the first leg against Newcastle took place on Jan 13.

Guardiola acknowledged that he did not expect City to be successful in their plea.

But the Spaniard, aware of his team’s defensive issues this season and the threat posed by Arsenal, plans to make the case for Guehi’s inclusion regardless.

“Why should he not play? Why not?” the City boss said. “He’s our player, we pay his salary, we hired him.

“We want to ask. I said to the club we have to ask, definitely. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play in the final of the League Cup in March when he has been here a long time.

“Of course we are going to ask because it’s pure logic. But to change the rule, no way. But we will try.”

Omar Marmoush was the star for City as the Egypt forward scored the opening two goals before Tijjani Reijnders added the third before half-time.

Anthony Elanga’s 62nd-minute reply for Newcastle came after City had taken their foot off the gas.

City are back in the League Cup final for the first time since 2021 as they look to win the competition for the fifth time in the Guardiola era.

This trophy was the first silverware of Guardiola’s City reign when they beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then working as his assistant.

Trailing six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League after a frustrating 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Feb 1, City’s progress to Wembley was a welcome boost for Guardiola.

“I do not take it for granted,” he said. “I know how difficult it is.

“I don’t know how many semi-finals and finals we have played in the FA Cup but it’s really good, and in 10 years, five League Cup finals, so it’s really good – top, top, top.

“The first title we won here was in the League Cup. When you win something, it helps to win more. It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world.”

Marmoush grabbed his chance to impress against the Magpies after Erling Haaland was reduced to a substitute role following a disappointing recent run for the Norway striker.

“He gives us a special quality,” Guardiola added of the Egyptian. “His pace, his moments in behind, and his work ethic.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s reign as League Cup holders is over after a pair of error-strewn performances over the two legs left boss Eddie Howe fuming.

“Really annoyed with the first-half display,” he said.

“We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically, we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us.

“That first half we weren’t good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems.” AFP