Guardiola’s Final Plea to Bend the Rules: Will Guehi Suit Up at Wembley?

Guehi's eligibility under the spotlight

Manchester City find themselves contending with an eligibility puzzle as Marc Guehi’s participation in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal hangs in the balance. A report indicates the English defender would be allowed to play only if the competition rules are amended, a scenario City and Pep Guardiola are hoping to spark into reality. The stakes are clear: a final at Wembley on March 22 and a chance to lift the trophy that’s eluded City in recent campaigns.

City advanced to the final after a 5-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United, sealing a fiery showdown with Arsenal at Wembley. The magnitude of the match is underscored by the dramatic path to the final, with City turning the tie decisively in their favor in the second leg.

Guardiola’s post-match commentary intensified the debate. He publicly urged the English Carabao Cup authorities to change the rules so Guehi could feature in the final. Guehi, who joined City from Crystal Palace after the first leg, would have been eligible only if the rules allowed his registration to count for the final, a nuance Guardiola described as hard to grasp.

As the controversy simmered, Guardiola argued that a high-value signing should not be ruled out of a final due to a technicality. He said something along the lines of buying a player for a big fee and watching him sit on the bench because of a rule he doesn’t understand, adding that a tweak would be reasonable. The practical question, however, remains: should the rules bend for a marquee final charge, or should they stand firm regardless of the matchup?

City’s official stance was echoed by coverage from Sky Sports, which clarified that the English League will not alter its rules to permit Guehi’s participation in the final, stressing that the rule is being applied for the first time this season. The decision leaves Guehi ineligible for the showpiece, despite Guardiola’s pleas.

Still, the Wembley date remains set, and football’s love of a good petition to the powers that be lives on. If nothing else, the saga has given fans a spicy subplot to accompany the main event, a reminder that even in football, paperwork can be as dramatic as the goals.

Punchline 1: If arguments over eligibility had a penalty, Guardiola’s request would have already been saved by VAR—Very Annoying Referee.
Punchline 2: At this rate, Guehi might need to file his own transfer request with a coffee-stained memo to the rules committee. Keep calm and carry on cheering—the ball’s still rolling, even if the rulebook isn’t ready to turn the page.