Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called for a change to the Carabao Cup rules to allow Mark Gehry to play in the final.
City set up a Wembley showdown with Arsenal for the trophy after beating Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in their semi-final. However, new signing Guehi is ineligible to play in the final as he was bought from Crystal Palace after the first leg of the semi-final.
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Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge explains why Mark Gehey is cup-tied for Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Carabao Cup rules – implemented for the first time this season – state that if a player is signed after the first leg of the semi-final, he cannot play in the rest of the competition.
Guardiola says he cannot “understand” the rule and “hopes” City will write to the EFL to appeal for his £20million defender to be available to face Arsenal on March 22.
Guehi has previously featured in the competition for Crystal Palace this season, playing in each of the three games, including the quarter-final defeat by Arsenal.
“Let’s hope we can arrive in March with fit players and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Mark Gehey can play in the final,” Guardiola said. Ski Sports. “Because it’s hard to understand that a club that invests heavily is paying for one player who belongs to us and I don’t understand why he can’t play in the final.”
“So we hope to write a letter, and we hope the Carabao Cup will understand. He is unable to play for a rule that I don’t understand why. I hope they can change it.”
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Highlights of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg between Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Antoine Semenho, signed by City for £62.5m from Bournemouth ahead of the semi-final first leg with Newcastle, will be available to play in the final.
Ski Sports Pundit Shay Given called the situation “farcical” and said it was unfair for Semenho to try to lift the trophy when he signed just 10 days before Gehi, arguing both players should be cup-bound or available for the final.
“I don’t think Semenyu should be allowed to play either,” Given said. “Once you play in the competition, you shouldn’t be allowed to play (again for another team). It should be in the cup like it always has been.”
“But it’s one rule for Semeny and one for Guehi.”
“If Gehi has already played for Palace, as Semenho has already played for Bournemouth, he should be allowed to play in the final (like Semenho).
Antoine Semenho is eligible to play in the competition for City
“Next month, Semenho can get his hands on the trophy, Guehi, he will join a week later, he can’t. I don’t want to use the word farcical – but I used it!”
However, Micah Richards added: “Rules are rules. I understand Pep’s frustration because you’ve just spent all that money on a player and you want him to play. But rules are rules.”
What does Man City’s schedule look like ahead of the Carabao Cup final?
Manchester City will face Premier League title rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on March 22, live Ski Sports, for the chance to win the first piece of silverware of the season – but what is City’s fixture schedule ahead of the event?
- February 28: Leeds (a) – Premier League, kick-off at 17.30 – live Ski Sports
- March 4: Nottingham Forest (h) – Premier League, kick-off at 19.30
- March 10/11: TBC – Champions League, last 16, 20 hours
- March 14: West Ham (a) – Premier League, start at 12.30
- March 17/18: TBC – Champions League, last 16, 20 hours