Guardiola’s City Advances to Carabao Cup Final Amidst Strong Performances

Pep Guardiola has achieved significant success in English football over the past decade, accumulating six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a Champions League trophy. Additionally, he led Manchester City to four consecutive League Cup victories between 2018 and 2021, and the team is once again vying for that prestigious trophy.

City confirmed their spot in the Carabao Cup final after overcoming Newcastle in the semi-finals, entering the second leg with a commanding 2-0 advantage. They secured a decisive victory by scoring three goals before halftime at home.

Forward Marmoush, who has had limited opportunities this season as Erling Haaland’s backup, excelled against Newcastle, netting two goals within the first thirty minutes. Tijjani Reijnders also contributed with a third goal, helping City to a 5-1 aggregate win.

Looking ahead, Guardiola’s squad will face Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are still in contention for a quadruple this season, on March 22. Marmoush, who joined City in January 2025 and is yet to win a trophy with the team, emphasized the eagerness of the players on Manchester’s blue side to achieve success.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Marmoush commented on reaching the major final: “We exhibited an excellent mentality. It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, and we are here to win trophies. We were united as a team, focused from the first minute on our task.

“We demonstrated our passion and are thrilled to reach the final. We strive daily to attain these finals and win silverware. Hopefully, we can achieve this for both the new players and those who have been here longer.”

Currently, Marmoush has scored 12 goals for City, five of which were against Newcastle at the Etihad, including a hat-trick last season. After transferring from Eintracht Frankfurt, his ambition has been to become a serial winner in England.

His contributions could soon be rewarded, especially after deflecting transfer speculation during the winter transfer window of 2026. He expressed his excitement about the League Cup final: “From the first minute of the game, we maintained our focus. Our mentality and passion for winning were evident. We are delighted with our achievement.

“I am beyond excited. Reaching a final is the best feeling, and we aim to reach every final possible. We are happy to be there, but our focus now is on the upcoming games, and we hope to win the final.”

Guardiola has utilized squad rotation in the Carabao Cup this season, balancing competitive action across multiple fronts. Notable players such as Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Rayan Cherki were rested during the match against Newcastle.

Despite the challenges, the team has made impressive progress towards another final, with hopes that injured players will return in time for another visit to Wembley. Additionally, City is seeking special permission from the Football League for January signing Marc Guehi to participate in the final, despite currently being ineligible. Guardiola expressed confidence in Guehi’s potential inclusion, stating, “Why should he not play? We will try.”

Before the Carabao Cup final, City has several matches lined up in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, with their next challenge against old rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.