MANCHESTER CITY are set to face Arsenal in the EFL Cup Final later this month.
And with looking to secure the first piece of silverware of the season, stretched squads during a hectic run of fixtures have led to questions being raised over the eligibility of certain players.
Marc Guehi signed for Man City in JanuaryCredit: Getty
City made two major additions to their squad in January, first signing for £65million.
The forward hit the ground running at the Etihad, scoring seven goals in 12 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens.
Pep Guardiola’s side then moved to strengthen their defence following a string of injuries at the back, bringing in Marc Guehi for £20m.
City managed to secure the England national football team international for a cut-price fee, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Guehi has also made an immediate impact for the Manchester club, helping them keep four clean sheets in eight appearances.
Both signings have played key roles in City’s title push and quickly become important figures in the squad.
However, with both players joining from Premier League clubs after featuring regularly earlier in the season, speculation has grown over whether they will be eligible to play in the final.
Will Marc Guehi get a medal if Man City win the Carabao Cup?
Marc Guehi will NOT be eligible to play for in the final against and would therefore not receive a winner’s medal if City lift the trophy on March 22.
This comes after a rule change introduced this season, which allows players to represent two clubs in the same campaign, provided the transfer is completed before the first leg of the semi-finals.
Previously, both Semenyo and Guehi would have been cup-tied after featuring for and Crystal Palace in the competition earlier in the season.
However, because Semenyo completed his move before the first leg of the semi-final, he was eligible to face Newcastle United.
The winger ended up playing a pivotal role by scoring in the first leg, helping City on their way to the final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
Guardiola even urged City to appeal to the EFL in an attempt to make Guehi eligible for the second leg of the semi-final, but any potential rule change was rejected.
As a result, Guehi will be watching from the stands at Wembley and will miss the chance to win his first trophy with City.
When is the Carabao Cup final?
- Arsenal and Manchester City are set to face each other on Sunday, March 22.
- Kick-off for the final is set for 4:30pm GMT.
- Wembley Stadium will host.
- Fans will be able to watch the match on ITV and Sky Sports
- Alternatively, you can tune into SunSport’s LIVE blog for minute-by-minute action.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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