Pep Guardiola commands a great deal of respect, and there is little harm in asking questions when the worst possible outcome is a refusal. In this case, however, his request for Manchester City to ask the EFL to reconsider its rules and allow Marc Guehi to play in the Carabao Cup final appears puzzling. Guardiola himself expected the response to be negative, which raises legitimate questions about the purpose and timing of such an appeal.
Manchester City were fully aware of the regulations when they signed the defender. They knew there was a clear deadline before the first leg of the League Cup semi-final if Guehi was to be eligible for the competition. Like the FA, UEFA and FIFA, the EFL outlines its policies and any amendments at the start of each season. Clubs, managers and players may disagree with those rules, but they are still expected to understand and accept them.
Timing and acceptance of the rules
If there were genuine concerns about the regulation, the appropriate moment to challenge it would have been before the campaign began. Waiting until a competition has one match remaining to request an exception feels ill-judged. There is an important distinction between disagreeing with a rule and refusing to accept it. Football regularly produces moments where supporters feel aggrieved, such as when VAR decisions hinge on marginal offside calls. In those situations, officials are applying the law as written, even if the law itself is unpopular.
The same principle applies here. Challenging rules only when the outcome is personally inconvenient undermines the integrity of the competition. Making an argument when a trophy is at stake weakens its credibility and places unnecessary pressure on governing bodies.
Implications for the final
Some may sympathise with the view that it is unreasonable for a club to pay a player significant wages and still be unable to select him for a major final. However, the reality is that these restrictions are known in advance and apply equally to all clubs. Arsenal would not accept a sudden rule change on the eve of a final, and nor should they be expected to.
Guehi’s presence in the opposition defence could genuinely influence the outcome of the match. That is precisely why rules should remain consistent until the competition concludes, ensuring fairness and avoiding precedents that could damage the game’s credibility
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Personally I think the rules are Archaic. You sign for a club what ever period of time in the season you should be allowed to play what ever game
Unfortunately the rules are the rules so we have to abide by them. Next season though it should be scrapped.
I am Always happy he is banned. 😃
Onwards and upwards
No he shouldn’t be allowed to play in my opinion. The rules were known at the beginning of the season. If the rule is to be changed, then it should only be done at the start of the next season.
What is it with Manchester City and the rules. They really need to study these rules, instead of trying to get around them at every turn.
115 charges ring any bells?. 🤦♂️
City worried . Semenyo Not enough for stopping Arsenal.
My view on this is similar to many whom I’ve hears from.
Should he be allowed to play? No, as right now the rules state that he can’t, end of story. They would have known this when thy signed him, surely.
Is it a stupid rule? Yes completely, and perhaps should be changed going forward.
I think City might have broken enough rules (that still hasn’t been addressed) and should be content to stick to this rule, even though I agree it possible needs removing after the season is done.
It’s a completely pointless rule that should be slung out, but in no way will it get changed during a season. Get real Pep.
No, the rules are the rules. End of. Then it is the same for all.
Your last paragraph hit the nail on the head.
It’s more than a possibility that this will be City’s only trophy this season so he’s trying every angle of opportunity to gain an advantage
Pep can’t bend the rule for this one.
Even if Guehi plays if we are going to win then we will win.
They still have good enough defenders to play that finals.
The Rule in question should be followed and can’t be altered simply for the benefit of one manager or a club. It appears Semenyo signing fell inside the rule, timeframe and criterion whilst Guehi – unfortunately for him – had been signed days too late to play the final. Usually The Rules made with foresight of consequences, they will not be formulated at a whim or without the benefit of hindsight. Altho It may be in future the same rules might have to be revised as a result of a much more severe, bigger, individual’s or club’s detriment in which case a precedent will have to be set to address the inconsistency – there is NO such detriment OR precedent to set in this matter.
Absolutely, positively, definitely he should not be allowed to play in the final neither should Antoine Semenyo.
I think Semenyo should and will
I think there should either be a cup tie rule or not – do either both should be able to play or neither. However, as others have said, the rules were set before the competition started this season, so they should stick to those, so it’s the same for everyone
Talking about city115 and the rules, it’s veeb announced that Leicester City have just been docked six points, putting them right in the relegation battle (still their manager won the PL so he’s the real deal) while the manchester club are still hiding behind their solicitors and getting away with it.
To try and get this changed for the final, shows just how much they care about the rules and let’s not forget, they delayed the signing anyway, in order for Guehi to play for palace in a PL game that would have benefited city115 if they had won (Can’t think of the exact circumstances at the moment).
All the clubs that have already been deducted points, must be wondering when this 115 plus saga will finally end and why city are being treated so differently to everyone else.
To have granted Guardiola his wish, would have been tantamount to admitting city are above any rules whatsoever!!
There not in a relegation battle or relegated because of the man who won them the Prem ?
No Dan, but to make a manager the “real deal”, it seems he has to win the PL and what happens after that doesn’t matter.. as with Daglish at Blackburn.
It’s strange how both these “real deal” managers clubs are now in a relegation dog fight to avoid going into the third tier of English football.
I wonder if their fans would swap that solitary PL win for where our club are today?
I know I wouldn’t swap places for all the tea in China, “real deal” or not – the club is always bigger than any single person, including. Mikel Arteta, even when he becomes the “real deal.”
To compare Leicester with Arsenal is another funny thing to write .
I would imagine Leicester fans wouldn’t agree with you there ,5000/1 to win the prem
Dream land for a small club like them
Trying to prove an odd point mate hasn’t really worked in your favour here .
But hey ,keep fighting the good fight to try and convince other fans (and yourself by the looks of it )that Arteta is a special manager .
Context can be a valuable friend !
Dan
Come on brother, Arteta is the real deal for many reasons. He is the reason why Arsenal are expected to win either the League or the Champions League. The last time we were in that position was between 2003-2006. Between 2006-2019 (When Arteta came), we were shit and a laughing stock. We used to celebrate finishing fourth. Arteta has come and changed that In such a way that if we don’t win any of the the big two trophies, then people will laugh at us
And do you know what? Your argument is funny because that would mean Di Matteo was a real deal more than Wenger because he won the Champions League
Finally, if winning the league or the champions League is the only way to rate someone as real deal, then, why did Arsenal fans push Arsene Wenger to leave the club despite winning 3 league titles? Arteta has done more than what we imagined. Give him his flowers
For one Freddy I haven’t mentioned the “real deal”quote that was posted by someone else !
IMO Arteta is another in a long line of cheque book mangers ,don’t get me wrong he’s done well with his billion pound backing.
As for Di Matteo ,didn’t he come in for 6 months ,no signings and just got the best out of the players he was given ,massive difference.
It’s abit like the Karen’s that down talk Slotts achievements last season ,like I said to Ken ,context is something that can be a valuable commodity.
Dan Kit
If Arteta is a cheque book manager, then he is following the likes of top managers such as Pep, Ferguson, Wenger, Klopp, Ancelotti, Mourinho etc who have all signed big. That means he is in a safe company
As for Di Matteo. Can you tell me how many top teams that he has coached since winning the Champions League with Chelsea? And by the way, Arteta also won his first trophy after only 6 months in his FIRST managerial job. How many top signings did he make before he won the FA cup?
As for the top 10 managers? All of them of them have won titles. But do you know what? Some of them went through what Arteta is going through
Eg
1. Ferguson: How many years did he stay at Man United before winning the league or the Champions League?
2. Mourinho: When was the last time he won a league title?
3. Wenger: He won only 3 league titles in 22 GOOD years when tye competition was less intense compared to now
– That is an average of 1 trophy in 7 years, yet Arteta has not even reached 7 years, not forgetting he has been facing harder opponents in Pep and Klopp
4. Ancelotti: He has won a lot. But, what did he win with Everton which is a lesser team with a lesser budget and less quality players?
5. Pep: He won two top titles in 9 years
Like I said, let’s give Arteta his flowers for making Arsenal a formidable side
5. Klopp not Pep
Your first paragraph completely undone your good work trying to put Arteta into the equation of the other managers you mentioned!
You bought up Wenger ,now do a net spend comparison with Arteta ,easy find on the interweb these days .
Has for the other 4 managers you decided to bring up ,they are world class mangers that have won countless trophies so probably earned the right to spend .
It’s a pointless exercise from my point on view ,yours obviously not .
I’ll agree to disagree .
Okay Freddy
Name me your 10 greatest managers of all times but they can’t havs won a title .
I’ll name you my top 10 who did win a title and we can compare
So you blame Kenny Daglish for Blackburn being in the Championship ?
Yes mate , most managers who are the real deal win titles
What has Ranieri got to do with Leicesters points deduction?
Funny thing to write ….
He has nothing to do with the points deduction DK – you obviously didn’t follow yesterday’s discussion regarding what makes a real deal manager – suggesting ibe could only earn that title by winning the PL….. no matter what happened after that, regarding the club who won the PL.
But you bought it up ,I’m lost
What did Raneri do that led to relegation
This makes zero sense
Ken, there’s an article in today’s (Saturdy) Guardian on the 115 subject. Not very enlightening TBH, but worth a read all the same.
Whoops! Saturday
Thanks Jax 👍
He should be allowed to play for city in the finale. I mean it doesn’t matter what the rules are since they do not apply evenly to all and sundry. 🤷🏿♂️
Just by the way:
I do think he is going to score an own goal if he plays.
😁
So, yes!
I do want him to play.
I want him to start.
He won’t play mate
Arsenal rightfully would contest it
Agree Dan and why on earth would any Arsenal fan want him to play and strengthen their defence?!
Really????
Noooooooooo