Bold headline: Pep Guardiola calls for common-sense rule change after City’s late addition is blocked
Pep Guardiola has once again urged football authorities to rethink the rules, arguing for common-sense flexibility, as Manchester City prepare for the Carabao Cup final without their January signing Marc Guehi. City reached the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 victory over Salford City, but Guehi remains ineligible for the final despite contributing off the bench in the FA Cup round four tie.
City’s win over Salford saw Guehi enter as a substitute and score, marking his first goal for City since his £20million switch from Crystal Palace. He had already featured for another club in the same competition this season, thanks to a recent FA Cup rule allowing players to represent multiple clubs in a single campaign. However, the Carabao Cup operates under different regulations.
The crux of Guardiola’s frustration is that Antoine Semenyo, who moved from Bournemouth, is allowed to play in the final against Arsenal because his transfer occurred before the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Guehi’s transfer, by contrast, arrived after that pivotal date, rendering him ineligible for Wembley despite his contributions to City’s progress.
City have petitioned the Football League to grant Guehi an exception, arguing that the spirit of the rules should accommodate players who transfer mid-season but remain integral to their current team. Guardiola reiterated the demand after the Salford match, questioning why Guehi can participate in some fixtures but not in the final, and appealing for a practical interpretation of the rulebase.
Guehi entered the match against Salford in the second half, replacing John Stones, and sealed the result with a composed finish under pressure from the opposition. Guardiola acknowledged the possession and performance benefits of Guehi’s goal, noting the intensity of the last three weeks and the looming brief break for City.
Speaking to Sky Sports earlier, Guardiola emphasized the need for flexibility: he hopes that by March the governing bodies will allow Guehi to appear in the final, stressing that the club has invested in the player and that blocking him makes little sense. He suggested writing a formal letter to the Carabao Cup organizers to advocate for an exception and invited scrutiny of the rule framework that appears inconsistent in similar circumstances.
For fans following City’s journey, the clash with Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final looms as a pivotal moment in a busy spell of fixtures. Guehi’s presence would bring a layer of cohesion and depth to City’s lineup, but the current regulations stand in the way.
Would you support a rule change to permit mid-season transfers to play in cup finals for their new clubs if they have already played for another club in the same competition? Or do you think the integrity of early transfer windows should be strictly maintained? Share your thoughts in the comments.
