Manchester City walked back into the Carabao Cup final with calm authority, ruthless efficiency, and the familiar feeling that when the pressure rises, they know exactly how to breathe. On a cold night at the Etihad Stadium, with Newcastle United hoping for a miracle and Pep Guardiola’s side protecting a 2-0 first-leg advantage, the story was decided almost as soon as it began. By the time the clock showed half an hour, the tie was effectively over, the noise drained from the travelling supporters, and City were already thinking about Wembley.
The night belonged to Omar Marmoush. From the very first minutes, he played with the sharpness of a forward who understands moments. Seven minutes in, City pushed Newcastle back again, the ball broke loose in the box, Dan Burn slid in to clear, and fate intervened. The clearance ricocheted off Marmoush, wrong-footed everyone, and rolled into the net. It was not the prettiest goal, but it was the most damaging. Newcastle arrived needing belief, control, and an early statement. Instead, they were hit with a reminder of how cruel football can be when small details turn against you.
That goal did more than extend City’s aggregate lead. It shattered Newcastle’s plan. Eddie Howe had spoken about starting fast, about putting City under pressure, about forcing doubt into the home crowd. Instead, the Etihad settled into a relaxed rhythm. City players kept the ball, moved it patiently, and waited for gaps. Newcastle tried to respond, but every forward run felt rushed, every pass carried extra weight, and every mistake was punished by City’s calmness.
Marmoush was not finished. His movement caused constant problems, pulling defenders out of shape and arriving in spaces Newcastle failed to track. Just before the half-hour mark, another moment of chaos in the Newcastle defence told the same story. Kieran Trippier tried to deal with a dangerous situation, but his clearance was weak. The ball dropped kindly, and Marmoush reacted faster than anyone else. From close range, he headed in his second of the night. The Etihad rose again, not in surprise, but in recognition. This was a striker in form, a forward who smells goals and lives for nights like this.
At 4-0 on aggregate, the tie was beyond doubt. Newcastle’s shoulders dropped. The game threatened to completely escape them, and City sensed it. They did not slow down. They did not retreat. Instead, they played with the confidence of a team that knows how to finish jobs. Just minutes later, City struck again. A slick counterattack cut through Newcastle’s midfield, the ball moved quickly from one blue shirt to another, and Tijjani Reijnders arrived late in the box to tap home. Three goals in the first half. Five on aggregate. The semi-final was over before half-time.
Newcastle still tried. They always do. Eddie Howe’s side has built its reputation on resilience, energy, and refusing to collapse, even when the odds turn ugly. In the second half, they played with more freedom, perhaps because the pressure was gone. They created chances. Anthony Gordon tested James Trafford. Joe Willock found space. There were moments when City had to defend properly, and Trafford, trusted by Guardiola on the night, delivered with calm saves and confident positioning.
Eventually, Newcastle found a reward. Anthony Elanga produced a superb strike, a goal full of confidence and quality, giving the travelling fans something to celebrate. It was no more than a consolation, but it showed Newcastle’s spirit. They had not come simply to accept defeat. They came to compete, even when the mountain became too steep to climb.
For City, the rest of the match was about control. They slowed the tempo, managed the game, and avoided unnecessary risks. Guardiola watched from the touchline, animated but satisfied. This was another final reached, another trip to Wembley, another reminder of how consistent his reign has been. Five Carabao Cup finals in ten years is not an accident. It is the result of standards, depth, and an understanding of how to win these competitions.
After the match, the focus quickly shifted from the night itself to what comes next. City will face Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March, a repeat of the 2018 final, a meeting filled with history and personal stories. Mikel Arteta once stood next to Guardiola, learning, observing, absorbing. Now he stands across from him, leading a team many believe is the best in Europe right now. Guardiola himself admitted it would be a pleasure to face Arsenal, praising their balance, intensity, and quality.
Pep Guardiola spoke warmly about his players. He highlighted Marmoush’s movement, his sense of goal, and his intelligence. He spoke about the mental challenge of games like this, where the job is half done but still dangerous. He was pleased with how City started, how they removed doubt early, and how they respected Newcastle by taking the game seriously.
He also confirmed what many suspected. James Trafford, the young goalkeeper who stepped in for Gianluigi Donnarumma, looks set to start the final. Guardiola praised Trafford’s future, calling him an extraordinary keeper and reminding everyone how unique the goalkeeper position is. You cannot rotate it the same way as outfield roles. Trafford earned his place, made important saves, and now stands on the brink of playing his first Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
There was also frustration in Guardiola’s words. He questioned the rules that make new signing Marc Guehi ineligible for the final. City invested heavily, brought the defender in January, and yet cannot use him on one of the biggest domestic stages. Guardiola found it difficult to understand, especially when other cases seem to allow exceptions. He confirmed City would write to the Football League, hoping for permission, hoping for clarity, hoping the rule could be reconsidered.
Eddie Howe, meanwhile, faced the reality of defeat with honesty. He spoke about the terrible start, about Dan Burn’s unfortunate deflection, about how chasing a game against City is the last thing any team wants. He admitted frustration at only scoring one goal across two legs, believing Newcastle created enough chances to deserve more. But he accepted reality. Sometimes football does not reward effort. Sometimes it rewards precision, and City were precise.
Howe also provided an update on Anthony Gordon’s injury, suggesting it looked like a hamstring issue but not too serious. For Newcastle, attention now turns back to the league, to Europe, to rebuilding momentum after seeing their cup defence end quietly.
For Guardiola, this night placed him once again on the edge of history. Another Carabao Cup final means the chance to win the competition for a fifth time as a manager, a record that would put him ahead of legends like Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, and Brian Clough. It is not the biggest trophy he has won, not by far, but it is one that reflects consistency, hunger, and respect for every competition entered.
What made this achievement more striking was the context. City were not at full strength. Injuries have stretched the squad. Changes were made. And yet the performance never dipped. That is the mark of Guardiola’s City. Even weakened, they remain dangerous. Even rotated, they remain organised. Even under pressure, they remain calm.
Tijjani Reijnders spoke with excitement after the match. He talked about the hunger to reach the final, about the sharpness City showed from the first minute, about the space he found between the lines. He admitted surprise at how much room he had, but also explained how City’s quality allows them to attack quickly when those gaps appear. For him, the final represents something special. A first trip to Wembley. A chance to win a trophy. The reason players play football.
As the Etihad slowly emptied and attention shifted to March, the feeling around Manchester City was familiar. Satisfaction, not celebration. Focus, not relief. This is a club that measures itself by trophies, not nights. Newcastle were brushed aside, but Arsenal await, and that is a different challenge entirely.
The Carabao Cup final will not be a formality. Arsenal are confident, organised, and fearless. They will arrive believing they can stop Guardiola, believing this is their moment. For City, it is another opportunity to prove why they remain the standard in English football. For Guardiola, it is another chapter in a story that continues to grow, season after season.
On this night, however, the story was simple. Manchester City were better. Omar Marmoush was clinical. Newcastle were overwhelmed early. And Wembley, once again, is calling Pep Guardiola’s team.
