MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City plans to request special permission from the English Football League (EFL) to allow Marc Guéhi to participate in the Carabao Cup final, according to Pep Guardiola.
City secured their spot at Wembley against Arsenal in March with a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle on Wednesday.
– It’s Man City vs. Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final — get ready!
– Arsenal makes history, reaching their first final in six years
Guéhi was ineligible to play against Newcastle, and Guardiola expressed his confusion about the rule that would prevent the 25-year-old from participating in the final as well, since he wasn’t registered before the first leg of the semifinal.
Antoine Semenyo, who also joined in January, will be eligible to play because he signed from Bournemouth prior to the first leg of the semifinal on January 13.
“We hope to convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) to let Marc play in the final,” Guardiola remarked.
“I don’t understand why he can’t play in the final. We need to write a letter,” Guardiola added.
“You acquire a player for a significant amount of money, yet he cannot play due to a rule that seems illogical. We hope they can reconsider it; it’s quite confusing.”
While Semenyo participated in both legs against Newcastle, Guéhi was barred from the second leg despite having played two Premier League matches for his new team after his transfer from Crystal Palace.
Guardiola acknowledged he is not very optimistic about Guéhi being granted permission to play against Arsenal on March 22, but he has urged City management to pursue the matter.
“I advised the club to definitely ask,” he stated.
“Marc can’t play the second leg because he didn’t participate in the first. Yet Antoine arrived beforehand and is eligible. So, for the final, why shouldn’t he play? Why not? He’s our player, and we pay his salary.”