City overwhelm Newcastle as Wembley beckons
Manchester City powered into the Carabao Cup final with a ruthless 3-1 victory over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium, completing a 5-1 aggregate success and setting up a Wembley meeting with Arsenal. The tie was effectively settled inside half an hour, with Omar Marmoush twice finding the net and Tijjani Reijnders adding a third before the break.
Yet even on a night of dominance, Pep Guardiola’s attention turned swiftly to selection rules — and to the absence of £20m signing Marc Guehi, who remains ineligible for the final under current competition regulations.
Goalscorers summary
Goal: Omar Marmoush — 7th minute — Manchester City
Goal: Omar Marmoush — 29th minute — Manchester City
Goal: Tijjani Reijnders — 32nd minute — Manchester City
Goal: Anthony Elanga — 62nd minute — Newcastle United
Marmoush strikes early as City seize control
City wasted no time asserting their authority. Marmoush opened the scoring in the 7th minute, when pressure down the left forced a ricochet that looped beyond the stranded goalkeeper. He doubled his tally on 29 minutes, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the area to head home from close range.
Three minutes later, in the 32nd minute, Reijnders arrived late into the box and calmly slotted past the keeper, leaving Newcastle facing an impossible task before half-time.
Anthony Elanga pulled one back on 62 minutes, but the damage had long been done.
Guardiola’s “pure logic” plea over £20m Guehi
Despite the emphatic win, Guardiola’s post-match focus centred on Guehi’s continued ineligibility. City signed the England centre-back from Crystal Palace for £20m, but competition rules prevent him from featuring at Wembley.
Guardiola said: “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final. I don’t understand the reason why he cannot play.”
He added: “You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play — it’s pure logic. We pay his salary, he is our player.”
The City manager confirmed the club intend to approach organisers in the hope of securing special dispensation ahead of the March showpiece.
Semenyo example underlines Guardiola’s argument
Guardiola also pointed to Antoine Semenyo as evidence of inconsistency in the regulations. The winger joined City before the first leg of the semi-final and was therefore eligible — and crucially, he scored in that opening match.
“Antoine arrived before the first game so could play,” Guardiola explained. “And now it’s the final — why should Marc not play?”
For Guardiola, the contrast between Semenyo’s availability and Guehi’s exclusion underlines what he views as a flawed system rather than a fair safeguard.
Newcastle relinquish last season’s crown
For Newcastle, the defeat marked the end of their reign as Carabao Cup winners, having lifted the trophy last season to end a 70-year wait for major domestic silverware. This time, early defensive errors and City’s relentless movement proved decisive.
Although Elanga’s goal briefly lifted the visitors, Eddie Howe’s side were unable to recover from the devastating opening half-hour and ultimately relinquished their grip on the title.
Another Guardiola final, another test
City now head to Wembley for yet another domestic final under Guardiola, where Arsenal — led by former assistant Mikel Arteta — await. With momentum strong, attacking options flourishing and controversy simmering over Guehi’s absence, the stage is set for a final rich in both quality and narrative.
