Manchester City have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the Carabao Cup final, with the EFL confirming that new defensive signing Marc Guehi will not be eligible for selection at Wembley. This decision comes despite a passionate public appeal from manager Pep Guardiola, who had hoped to secure special dispensation for the £20 million acquisition from Crystal Palace.
Guardiola's Logical Argument Falls on Deaf Ears
A visibly perplexed Pep Guardiola had argued that it was only logical for Guehi to be available for the showpiece final next month. The City boss revealed the club's intention to formally write to the EFL, requesting an exception to the current regulations. Guardiola emphasised the player's youth and potential long-term value to a club consistently competing for major honours.
Rule Change Creates a Clear Cut-Off Point
The EFL's stance is rooted in a specific rule alteration implemented last summer. The revised regulations now permit a player to feature for two different clubs in the same competition within a season, but only if the transfer is completed before the first leg of the semi-final stage.
This very rule allowed forward Antoine Semenyo to participate in both of Manchester City's semi-final legs against Newcastle United, making him available for the final against Arsenal. However, it has worked against Marc Guehi. His move to the Etihad Stadium was finalised after City's first leg at St James' Park, creating an insurmountable regulatory barrier.
City's Final Hopes Dashed by Timing
Consequently, despite Guardiola's hopes of convincing the authorities, the EFL is understood to be firmly resistant to making any further exceptions. The manager's frustration was palpable in his post-match comments following City's recent fixture.
'Hopefully we can convince them, sometimes it's difficult to understand,' Guardiola stated. 'We will play a lot of finals. He is so young. He came to a team that will play in the next years a lot of finals. No doubt about that.'
This ruling means Guardiola must now finalise his plans for the Carabao Cup final without being able to call upon his new central defender, a setback for City's preparations as they aim to secure the season's first major domestic trophy.
