Man City are NOT happy with the rules 😳 Pep confirmed that they will request a change and if the EFL listen, it could cause uproar

Manchester City are once again preparing for a big night at Wembley, but this time the build-up to the Carabao Cup final is not only about football, tactics, or rivalry. It is also about rules, fairness, and a growing frustration that Pep Guardiola no longer wants to keep quiet. After guiding his team into the final with a dominant performance against Newcastle United, the Manchester City manager confirmed that the club will officially write to the English Football League demanding a rule change that he believes makes no sense in the modern game.

City’s route to the Carabao Cup final was calm, ruthless, and professional. They arrived at the semi-final second leg against Newcastle already holding a strong advantage after a 2-0 win at St James’ Park. From the first minute at the Etihad Stadium, it was clear that Guardiola’s side had no interest in drama. They wanted control, early goals, and a quiet night. That is exactly what they delivered.

Within just 33 minutes, the tie was finished. Omar Marmoush, playing with confidence and sharp movement, scored twice to break Newcastle’s resistance. Tijjani Reijnders added a third before the break, and City were already thinking about Wembley while Newcastle were left chasing shadows. Anthony Elanga managed to score a consolation goal after coming off the bench, but it changed nothing. Over two legs, the score was 5-1, and City were through without stress.

For Manchester City, reaching the Carabao Cup final has become almost routine. They are chasing their ninth League Cup title, an incredible record that underlines their dominance in this competition over the last decade. But this season has not followed their usual smooth path. Injuries have hurt them. Defensive options have been limited. Performances have not always reached the level fans expect. That is why this final matters so much. It is a chance to win a major trophy again and restore belief.

However, almost immediately after qualification was confirmed, attention shifted away from the result and toward an issue that has been quietly building behind the scenes. A rule. A rule that Pep Guardiola believes is outdated, confusing, and unfair.

The issue centres around two January signings: Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi. Both players joined Manchester City in the winter transfer window. Both are fully registered. Both train with the squad. Both belong to the club. But only one of them is allowed to play in the Carabao Cup final.

Antoine Semenyo, signed for £62.5 million, was allowed to play in both legs of the semi-final against Newcastle. This was despite the fact that he had already played for Bournemouth earlier in the competition. His eligibility came through an updated EFL rule that allows a player to represent two different clubs in the same Carabao Cup season, as long as specific timing conditions are met.

Marc Guehi, on the other hand, is banned from playing in the final. He was cup-tied because he joined Manchester City after the first leg of the semi-final had already been played. The difference between the two players is not ability, importance, or registration. It is timing. And for Guardiola, that is simply not good enough.

To understand the controversy fully, it is important to understand the rule itself. Under EFL Rule 6.4, a registered player can play for up to two clubs in the Carabao Cup during the same season if certain conditions are met. First, the player must have appeared for his original club before the winter transfer window closed or before the first leg of the semi-final, whichever comes first. Second, the player must then complete a transfer to another club before that same deadline.

Antoine Semenyo met those conditions. He played for Bournemouth earlier in the competition, completed his move to Manchester City before the deadline, and was therefore allowed to continue playing in the Carabao Cup. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was not happy about this rule, especially after seeing Semenyo play against his side, but the rule was clear.

Marc Guehi’s situation was different. Although he also joined in January, his transfer was completed after the first leg of the semi-final. Because of that, the rule blocks him from playing in the final. It does not matter that he is registered. It does not matter that he is fit. It does not matter that City are suffering from a serious centre-back crisis. The rule says no, and under current regulations, that is the end of the story.

Except Pep Guardiola does not want it to be the end of the story.

Speaking after the win over Newcastle, Guardiola made his feelings clear. He said Manchester City will write to the EFL in the hope of finding a solution. He admitted he does not understand the rule, and more importantly, he does not understand the logic behind it.

In simple terms, Guardiola’s argument is this: if a club legally buys a player during an open transfer window, and that player is fully registered, then he should be allowed to play in all competitions. From Guardiola’s point of view, football authorities cannot approve a transfer and then allow a competition to block that player for reasons that feel technical rather than sporting.

He explained that Manchester City made a big investment in Marc Guehi. The player belongs to them. He trains with them every day. He plays for them in the Premier League. Yet because of a rule Guardiola says he cannot explain, Guehi is banned from playing in one of the biggest games of the season.

Guardiola was careful not to attack the EFL directly, but his frustration was obvious. He said he hopes the organisers can “understand” the situation. He said he hopes a letter can help bring clarity. But he also made it clear that, in his mind, the rule simply does not make sense.

The situation is made even more frustrating by the fact that Guehi is allowed to play in other competitions. He has already featured twice for Manchester City in the Premier League, against Wolves and Tottenham. He will be allowed to play in the FA Cup against Salford City, even though he previously played for Crystal Palace in the same competition earlier in the season. He will also be eligible to play in the Champions League knockout stages after City qualified for the round of 16.

So the question many fans are asking is simple. Why can Marc Guehi play in every competition except the Carabao Cup final?

For Guardiola, this contradiction highlights the problem. Modern football allows players to switch clubs more often than ever before. Transfer windows exist to create order. Registration systems exist to ensure fairness. But cup rules like this one feel left behind, still designed for a football world that no longer exists.

From Manchester City’s point of view, the timing of Guehi’s transfer should not matter more than his status as a City player. The club believes the spirit of competition should allow the best players to take part, especially in a final. Guardiola believes fans deserve to see the strongest possible teams at Wembley, not line-ups weakened by technicalities.

Of course, not everyone agrees. Critics argue that rules are rules and must be respected. Some believe changing rules to suit one club sets a dangerous precedent. Others accuse City of trying to bend the system because they are unhappy with an outcome that does not favour them.

But Guardiola is not arguing for special treatment, at least not in his own words. He is arguing for logic. He is arguing for consistency. He is asking why one January signing can play while another cannot, when both belong to the same club.

This debate also comes at a sensitive time for Manchester City. Injuries at centre-back have left Guardiola short of options. Every available defender matters. Losing Guehi for the final is not just symbolic. It has real tactical consequences. Against an Arsenal side full of pace, movement, and confidence, every defensive decision matters.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are preparing for the final with quiet confidence. They know they will face a City side desperate to end a trophy drought. They know Guardiola will have his team fully prepared. But they also know City may arrive at Wembley without one of their new defensive signings.

The Carabao Cup final on Sunday 22 March will be the first major domestic trophy of the season. For Arsenal, it is a chance to prove they can beat City when it truly counts. For Guardiola, it is a chance to remind everyone that his team are still serial winners. And now, it is also a test of whether football’s rule-makers are willing to listen.

Guardiola has always been a manager who challenges the system. He questions referees. He questions scheduling. He questions competition formats. Sometimes this makes him unpopular. Sometimes it makes him look like he is complaining. But he has never hidden from these conversations.

In this case, he believes the rule does not protect fairness. He believes it creates confusion. He believes it punishes clubs and players for reasons that have nothing to do with football ability or integrity.

Whether the EFL will respond positively remains to be seen. Rule changes rarely happen quickly, especially in the middle of a competition. It is highly unlikely that Marc Guehi will be allowed to play in the final. But for Guardiola, raising the issue is important, even if the outcome does not change.

Because for him, football should evolve. Rules should reflect reality. And competitions should allow the best players to perform on the biggest stage.

As Manchester City prepare for Wembley, the focus will eventually return to the pitch. Tactics will be discussed. Line-ups will be debated. The Guardiola versus Arteta storyline will dominate headlines. But in the background, this rule dispute will remain a talking point, a reminder that football is not only decided by goals and trophies, but also by regulations written far away from the pitch.

For now, Guardiola has made his stance clear. Manchester City will write to the EFL. They will ask for understanding. They will ask for change. And whether or not that change comes in time for this final, the debate has already started.

The Carabao Cup final is coming. Wembley is waiting. And once again, Pep Guardiola is refusing to stay silent.