Manchester City advanced to the Carabao Cup final, defeating Newcastle United 3-1 on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory. However, the club faces a potential setback with new signing Marc Guéhi ineligible for the final on Sunday, March 22, 2026, due to EFL Cup rules.
City’s goals in the second leg came from Omar Marmoush, who scored twice, and Tijjani Reijnders. Anthony Elanga scored the lone goal for Newcastle after the break. The victory sets up a final against Arsenal.
The issue surrounding Guéhi’s eligibility stems from the fact that he had already featured for Crystal Palace earlier in the competition before joining Manchester City on January 19, 2026. EFL Cup rule 6.4.2 allows a player to represent two clubs in the competition provided they join the second club before the semi-final first leg. Guéhi was signed after the first leg, rendering him ineligible for the remainder of the tournament.
Manager Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration with the rule, stating that the club will appeal the decision to the Carabao Cup authorities. “I told the club we must ask – hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup 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,” Guardiola said. However, he conceded that a rule change is unlikely, stating, “No. To change the rule? No way.”
Despite the potential absence of Guéhi, Guardiola emphasized the importance of reaching the final, particularly for players who haven’t previously experienced a final with the club. “Many of us, including me, we are really happy to come back to the final – and for many players that have never been in the final, the Carabao Cup, or a final with this club, it’s a good thing to experience that,” he said.
The match also saw Antoine Semenyo feature for City, having joined from Bournemouth on January 9, 2026, making him eligible for the semi-final tie. Guardiola highlighted the positive impact of both January signings, stating, “Yeah, really good,” when asked about Guéhi and Semenyo.
Guardiola also addressed the broader context of Manchester City’s spending in the transfer market, noting that the club is seventh in the Premier League net spend table over the past five years. He jokingly expressed frustration that the club didn’t spend more during the January transfer window, suggesting that other clubs with higher net spend should face greater scrutiny for their lack of silverware. “I’m a little bit sad and upset because in net spend in the last five years we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be the first. I don’t understand why the club don’t spend more money. I am a little bit grumpy with them,” Guardiola stated. He further argued that clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, who have outspent City in recent years, should be under pressure to deliver trophies.
Elsewhere, City are facing injury concerns with Bernardo Silva, who is a doubt for their upcoming match against Liverpool on Sunday, February 8, 2026, due to a muscle injury. Newcastle also suffered an injury blow, with Anthony Gordon forced off before halftime with a suspected hamstring injury. Manager Eddie Howe described the injury as a “big worry.”
Howe expressed disappointment with his team’s performance and exit from the Carabao Cup, stating, “We see painful, we loved the ride we had last year – it was an incredible experience and we were desperate to have it again.”
