Pep speaks frankly about Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final

Pep Guardiola shares his enthusiasm about facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, while stressing the importance of Man City being in top form for the crucial match.

In the early hours of February 5th (Vietnam time), Manchester City secured their place in the Carabao Cup final after convincing performances over two legs against Newcastle. Pep Guardiola’s squad won 2-0 away at St James’ Park before sealing the job with a 3-1 victory at Etihad. Their proactive, high-tempo style allowed Man City to dominate the game and quickly dismantle Newcastle’s counterattacking plans.

In the second leg, Omar Marmoush shone with a rapid-fire brace, while Tijjani Reijnders added another goal, putting Man City ahead 3-0 within 33 minutes. Newcastle managed only a consolation goal in the second half courtesy of Anthony Elanga. The one-sided match highlighted a clear gap in experience and squad depth between the teams.

After the match, Pep Guardiola gave special praise to Arsenal, Man City’s opponents in the final. “Hopefully by March, we will have a full, healthy squad ready to compete against an excellent, top-class team.” He emphasized his eagerness to face Mikel Arteta, who was once his close assistant.

The Spanish coach also highlighted the significance of the Carabao Cup for Man City. “It’s wonderful. You have to live through this experience. The first trophy we won here was the Carabao Cup. Once you’ve won one title, it helps you go on to win many more.” Pep concluded with a strong statement: “It’s a pleasure to face Arsenal, currently the best team in Europe and possibly the best in the world.”

From the players’ side, Reijnders praised the opponent and expressed determination to win the trophy. “It will be a tough match, but we will be very hungry and eager to claim this title.” The midfielder affirmed that Man City will carefully analyze Arsenal to identify their strengths, while also highlighting his desire to play his first major final at Wembley on March 22nd.

On the other hand, former star Micah Richards commented that Man City showed professionalism, whereas Newcastle revealed issues with their attacking efficiency. He noted that the Northeast team is losing the fast counterattack identity that was once their strength, and some players do not fit well with the current tactical system.