Guardiola on the Brink of Carabao Cup History After City Defeats Newcastle

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is on the verge of making history in the Carabao Cup after a decisive 3-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United. With only Arsenal standing in their way, Guardiola praised the Gunners as the top team in Europe. Omar Marmoush shone with two goals, while City's goalkeeper James Trafford made crucial saves. Despite tactical errors from Newcastle and injuries to key players, the stage is set for an exciting final at Wembley. Will Guardiola secure his fifth title, or can Arteta's Arsenal pull off an upset?

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 5, 2026, 09:53 IST

Guardiola's Quest for a Fifth Carabao Cup Title

Pep Guardiola is just one win away from becoming the most successful manager in the history of the Carabao Cup. Manchester City secured their spot in the Wembley final with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Newcastle United, setting the stage for a showdown against Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, who stands in the way of Guardiola's fifth title in this competition.

Having previously won the trophy four times, Guardiola acknowledged Arsenal as 'the best team currently in Europe and possibly the world.' Despite this, his team had little difficulty overcoming Newcastle, whose attempt to defend their first major trophy since 1969 ended disappointingly. City advanced even after resting star player Erling Haaland for most of the match, with Omar Marmoush stepping up in his absence.

Marmoush Shines with Two Goals

Marmoush scored twice in the first half, with both goals coming from fortunate circumstances. His first goal deflected off Dan Burn, while the second came after Kieran Trippier's attempted clearance inadvertently set him up. Guardiola praised Marmoush's movement and ability to exploit Newcastle's weaknesses, while Tijjani Reijnders added a third goal, taking advantage of another defensive error.

Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, expressed his frustration, attributing the goals conceded to 'individual mistakes and errors.' His team struggled offensively, losing Anthony Gordon to injury and missing Alexander Isak, who had been pivotal in last year's Wembley victory.

Trafford's Heroics and Tactical Missteps

James Trafford, City's goalkeeper and a long-time target for Newcastle, delivered an impressive performance, making crucial saves against Joe Willock, Gordon, Trippier, and Sven Botman. Guardiola described Trafford's display as 'unbelievable,' ensuring his place in the final.

Guardiola made significant rotations, leaving key players like Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Ruben Dias, and Gianluigi Donnarumma on the bench. Bernardo Silva was absent entirely and is doubtful for the upcoming match against Liverpool. Marc Guehi also missed out, prompting Guardiola to express frustration over his ineligibility and hint at a potential rule change to allow him to play at Wembley.

Newcastle's Tactical Errors and Missed Opportunities

Newcastle's tactical setup backfired, as Howe's choice to use a back three—effective in last season's semi-final against Arsenal—left them exposed to City's counter-attacks. Even after bringing on attacking substitutes, missed opportunities from Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga proved detrimental. Elanga did score his first goal for Newcastle following a solo effort, but it was too late to change the match's outcome.

City's dominance at the Etihad Stadium continued, marking Newcastle's 12th consecutive defeat there, with a staggering 40 goals conceded during this streak. Despite some empty seats noted by visiting fans, City supporters are now focused on the upcoming final at Wembley, where Guardiola will face his former assistant Arteta in a bid for history.