Why is Marc Guehi ruled out of EFL Cup final for Man City vs Arsenal?
The centre-back arrived at the Manchester club during the January transfer window.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed his optimism that Marc Guehi would be eligible for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Guehi, who moved from Crystal Palace to Man City during the January transfer window, was unable to play in Man City’s victory over Newcastle United in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
The centre-back was absent because his £20 million transfer to the Etihad Stadium was finalised following the first-leg of the Carabao Cup at St. James’ Park.
Guehi was required by EFL regulations to register in advance to participate in the return leg.
Why can’t Marc Guehi play in the Carabao Cup final for Manchester City vs Arsenal?
Marc Guehi won’t be able to play in the final at Wembley on Sunday, March 22, because the cut-off point came after the first leg of the semi-final.
The England international equalised in stoppage time to force a penalty showdown at the Emirates Stadium, ironically, in the quarterfinal match against Arsenal last year.
However, unless Man City are successful in persuading the EFL to make an abrupt rule change, Guehi will not have the opportunity to play against the Gunners for a second time.
Guardiola hopes to see Marc Guehi play the final
Following the 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle, Guardiola told Sky Sports:
“Hopefully in March we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup [officials] that Marc can play in this final.”
“It is difficult to understand that the club makes a big investment to take one player, he belongs to us and I do not understand why he cannot play in the final.”
“Hopefully we make a letter and hopefully the Carabao Cup [officials] can understand that once you buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule that I do not understand why.”
Why can Marc Guehi not play in the final?
The centre-back was registered after their first-leg game against Newcastle.
Who are City facing in the final?
They will face Arsenal in the final.
When is the Carabao Cup final?
It’s on 22nd March.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.