Manchester City will be unable to field new signing Marc Guehi in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on , despite manager Pep Guardiola’s attempts to appeal the decision.
City secured their place in the final with a dominant 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United, completing the tie on Wednesday night. Following the match, Guardiola expressed his bewilderment at the rule preventing Guehi’s participation and indicated the club would formally request an exception. “Why should he not play? Why not? He’s our player, we pay his salary, we hired him…,” Guardiola stated. “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 Carabao 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.”
However, the EFL has confirmed that no change to the existing regulations will be made, meaning Guehi will be ineligible for the Wembley showdown. The issue stems from the timing of Guehi’s transfer from Crystal Palace on , after the first leg of the semi-final had already been played.
EFL Rule 6.4.2 allows players to feature for multiple clubs within the same League Cup competition, but only if they were registered with their new club before the conclusion of the winter transfer window or before the first leg of the semi-final – whichever occurs first. This rule was newly implemented for the current season.
The rule’s application was highlighted earlier in the competition with the case of Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo was permitted to play for Manchester City in the first leg against Newcastle after joining from Bournemouth, precisely because his transfer was completed before the semi-final first leg. He even scored in that match at St James’ Park.
Another City player, Max Alleyne, also benefited from the rule. Alleyne had been on loan with Watford earlier in the season but was recalled by City and was eligible to participate in the competition due to the timing of his return.
Guardiola’s frustration is understandable, given Guehi’s quality and the club’s desire to have all available players for a major final. The situation underscores the often-complex and sometimes seemingly arbitrary nature of competition rules, particularly regarding player eligibility. While City will pursue all avenues to potentially include Guehi, the EFL’s stance appears firm.
The Carabao Cup final represents a significant opportunity for Manchester City to add to their trophy cabinet. Arsenal will present a formidable challenge and Guardiola will be keen to have a fully fit and available squad. The absence of Guehi, a talented defender, will undoubtedly be felt, but City will need to rely on the depth and quality within their existing ranks to overcome the Gunners.
The rule preventing Guehi’s participation highlights a growing trend in football – the increasing scrutiny of transfer regulations and their impact on player availability in cup competitions. While the intention of the rule is to maintain competitive fairness, it can also lead to situations that appear counterintuitive, denying clubs the opportunity to utilize their fully assembled squads in crucial matches. The debate surrounding player eligibility is likely to continue, particularly as the transfer landscape becomes increasingly dynamic.
The final at Wembley on promises to be a captivating encounter between two of England’s top teams. While the focus will naturally be on the players who are able to take the field, the absence of Marc Guehi serves as a reminder of the often-unseen complexities that shape the modern game.
