Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that he is hopeful of having Marc Guehi available for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Guehi, who joined Man City from Crystal Palace in the January transfer window, was ineligible for Man City’s semi-final second leg win over Newcastle on Wednesday night.
The reason for the central defender’s absence was because his £20m move to the Etihad Stadium was completed after the Carabao Cup first-leg at St James’ Park.
As per EFL rules, Guehi had to be registered beforehand in order to be able to take part in the return leg.
Furthermore, as the cut-off point was after the semi-final first-leg, it means Guehi will also be ineligible for the final at Wembley on Sunday, March 22.
The England international, ironically, scored a stoppage time equaliser against Arsenal in the quarter-final, to force a penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Guehi will not get the chance to feature against the Gunners for a second time in the competition - unless Man City are successful in their bid to convince the EFL of a sudden rule change.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the 5-1 aggregate win over Newcastle, Guardiola said: “Hopefully in March we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup [officials] that Marc can play in this final.
“It is difficult to understand that the club makes a big investment to take one player, he belongs to us and I do not understand why he cannot play in the final.
“Hopefully we make a letter and hopefully the Carabao Cup [officials] can understand that once you buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule that I do not understand why.
“Hopefully they can change it and he can play.”
This season the rules regarding player eligibility in the Carabao Cup have changed.
Antoine Semenyo featured in the competition for Bournemouth in round two but was cleared to play in both semi-final ties after joining Man City before the trip to St James’ Park.
