Football Pep's way: If rules don't suit you, change them
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 05.02.26. | 19:15
Marc Guehi is (for now) ineligible for Man City's clash against Arsenal in the EFL Cup final, but Guardiola is determined to put pressure on the rule-makers and alter the defender's status
Following a four-year absence, Manchester City will once again play in the EFL Cup grand final. The Cityzens easily crushed Newcastle last night (3-1) and confirmed the first-leg triumph, advancing to the trophy match with a 5-1 win on aggregate.
However, Pep Guardiola wasn't exactly cheerful after the victory, all because of one particular rule that makes Marc Guehi ineligible for the duel scheduled for March 22.
According to the BBC, the "controversial" rule dictates that a player can be eligible to play only if he has joined a club "prior to the closure of the Winter transfer window, or the first leg of the semi-final (whichever is sooner)."
Given that Guehi arrived at Etihad after the Cityzens' first-leg clash against the Magpies, he won't be at Guardiola's disposal in March. At least, that's the case for now.
Namely, the Spaniard is determined to convince the EFL to make an exception or change the rule altogether and allow the centre-back to play.
"Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc [Guehi] can play the final. I don't understand why he cannot play the final. Why should he [Guehi] not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player."
"You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don't understand. Hopefully they can change it," he said via BBC.
Pep Guardiola questions Marc Guehi cup final ineligibility 🗣️🏆 pic.twitter.com/QsBVRPPyBd
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) February 5, 2026
Pep also added that he demanded the club take action, calling Guehi's eligibility "pure logic".
"I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don't understand the reason why he cannot play in the final in March, when I have been here for a long time."
"The rules to buy a player depends on Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League who say, OK the transfer window is open, when you buy a player you have to play, no? It's logic. Of course we are going to try to ask [for] him to play. Pure logic," Guardiola concluded.
EFL will not change its rules to allow Guehi to play for Man City in Carabao Cup final despite Guardiola's plea.
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) February 5, 2026
Rules were already eased at start of season to allow players to appear for more than one club if it was before the semi-final 1st leg (which means Semenyo can play).
Nevertheless, according to the latest information, his request won't be granted - at least if we believe The Times' journalist Martyn Ziegler.
"EFL will not change its rules to allow Guehi to play for Man City in Carabao Cup final despite Guardiola's plea. Rules were already eased at start of season to allow players to appear for more than one club if it was before the semi-final 1st leg (which means Semenyo can play)," he wrote on X.
Still, knowing Pep, this case is far from closed...
