Manchester City Advances to Carabao Cup Final with Dominant Victory Over Newcastle

Manchester City began their match against Newcastle with Erling Haaland on the bench, quickly establishing dominance in the game. Marmoush initiated the scoring just seven minutes in and added a second goal in the 29th minute. Reijnders followed suit, extending the lead to 3-0 shortly thereafter, with City ultimately securing a 5-1 victory.

This win sets up a Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley. Although Haaland came off the bench in the second half, he was unable to find the net, marking only one goal in his last eight matches across all competitions for City.

Fans have voiced their opinions on social media, suggesting that the team performs better without the prolific striker. One supporter, @bestinthelandc, remarked on X, “Our press is better without Haaland. Big issue.” Another, @omoselye0x, expressed disdain, stating, “See how better we play across the lines without that Norwegian donkey. Haaland, you will pay for your crimes.” Additionally, @YonkoToni shared, “I don’t know how I feel about Haaland anymore to be honest. Love the dude, but I feel like we play so much better without him.”

Supporter @Destiny247247 added, “We are more flexible with anyone not named Haaland playing striker… it’s football basics when you play without a target number nine. Plus, these are games where you can see Marmoush excel, with enough space to run behind.”

Furthermore, @pepstrickyblues posted, “Haaland, if you want to take your 40 goals against weaker teams and 100 million a year wages elsewhere, feel free!”

In response to Haaland’s recent goal drought, manager Pep Guardiola addressed the situation, stating, “God bless that we have Erling in our team right now. We are fortunate to have him, and without him, we would not be in the position we are in now. He brings a lot and is improving in many areas. There are many games, and this is an incredible period, with matches every three days and limited recovery time. It’s challenging, but he’ll be back.”

Marmoush reflected on his performance against Newcastle, expressing a desire for a hat-trick. He told Sky Sports, “We showed a very good mentality. We were united as a team, focused from the first minute. I am very happy to score two goals; I wished for a hat-trick, but our performance will give us confidence as we prepare for the final.”

Manchester City will face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 22, 2026. In the interim, they aim to close the six-point gap with the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table. Guardiola’s side will return to action this Sunday against Liverpool at Anfield.