Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City will try to appeal Marc Guehi’s suspension for the Carabao Cup final
City signed Guehi in the January window after the defender had played for his former club Crystal Palace in the competition. Players who move in the winter transfer window having played for another club in earlier stages of the competition can still be registered for the next stages.
However, Guehi was not registered for City before the first leg of their semi-final against Newcastle, so he’s not eligible going forward. His fellow January signing Antoine Semenyo was signed and registered before the first leg. He has since played both legs and is also eligible to play in the final.
“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final,” said Guardiola. “I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. Hopefully we make a letter.
“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. It is difficult to understand.”
City signed Guehi from Palace for £20m. With the England defender’s contract expiring in the summer when he was certain to leave as a free agent, Palace were willing to let him go six months earlier in exchange for a small fee.
Guardiola’s side beat Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the Carabao Cup semifinals to set up a final against Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March.
“I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely,” Guardiola said. “Marc cannot play the second leg because he didn’t play the first. And Antoine arrived before the first so could play. And now it’s the final. Why should he not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player.”
