Pep Guardiola frustratedly demands a rule change in the competition for his player

Pep Guardiola openly expressed his frustration, stating that the Carabao Cup regulation is unreasonable and called for a change so Marc Guehi can be eligible to play in the final against Arsenal.

Coach Pep Guardiola voiced confusion and dissatisfaction regarding the rule that might prevent newcomer Marc Guehi from participating in the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal.

After Man City defeated Newcastle with an aggregate score of 5-1 to secure a spot in the final, Pep Guardiola candidly shared his frustration that the English defender is ineligible to play because he was registered after the first leg of the semi-final. According to current EFL rules, players must be registered before the semi-final to qualify for the final.

Pep Guardiola said after the match “Hopefully by March, we can enter the final with our strongest squad, and I hope the Carabao Cup organizers will allow Marc Guehi to participate."

The Spanish manager believes this rule is outdated for modern football, especially given that clubs invest heavily to strengthen their squads mid-season.

“The club invests a huge amount to bring in a player who belongs to us, yet he cannot play in the final. I really don’t understand why such a rule exists,” Pep emphasized.

Pep Guardiola revealed that Man City is considering sending an official letter to the Carabao Cup organizers to request a review of the rule. He believes it is unfair for a player to be barred from playing simply due to registration timing, which contradicts the competitive spirit of the tournament.

“We hope to send a letter and hope the Carabao Cup organizers understand that when you buy a player for a large sum, you should have the right to use him,” the Man City head coach added. “It’s very hard to accept that a player cannot play in the final because of a rule whose reason I do not fully understand.”

Pep Guardiola also expressed his wish for the organizers to be more flexible to ensure the highest quality of the top match at Wembley: “Hopefully they can change it and Marc will be allowed to play in the final,” he concluded.

The Carabao Cup final between Man City and Arsenal is scheduled for late March at Wembley. The final decision regarding Marc Guehi’s eligibility is still pending a response from the competition organizers amid growing public debate over the rule.