Manchester City defender Marc Guehi expressed a mix of pride and disappointment after watching his teammates celebrate their latest triumph in the EFL Cup final at Wembley.
The 25-year-old centre-back, who joined City from Crystal Palace during the January transfer window, was unable to feature in the showpiece occasion as Pep Guardiola’s side secured a 2-0 victory over Arsenal.
Despite having already played in the competition earlier in the campaign, Guehi’s absence was not due to being cup-tied — a rule that often prevents players from representing multiple clubs in the same tournament.
Instead, his omission stemmed from registration regulations, which meant he was not eligible for selection in either the semi-final or the final.
City had completed his signing after the first leg of their last-four clash against Newcastle United, ruling him out of participation at the decisive stages.
By contrast, fellow January arrival Antoine Semenyo was available, having been registered in time to meet the competition requirements.
Although sidelined on one of the club’s biggest domestic occasions of the season, Guehi made clear his admiration for his teammates’ performance.
Watching from the stands at Wembley, he saw City claim their ninth League Cup title with a composed and commanding display.
After the final whistle, the England international took to social media, sharing a slow-motion video of the trophy lift as the squad celebrated in front of their supporters.
Alongside the clip, he wrote: “What a team and performance. So proud of the boys.”
The message captured both his joy at the collective success and the personal frustration of being unable to contribute on the pitch.
For a player who had quickly settled into life at the Etihad following his move, missing out on such a milestone occasion was clearly difficult.
Guardiola questions competition rules
City manager Pep Guardiola had already voiced his dissatisfaction with the regulations that kept Guehi out of contention.
Speaking ahead of the final, the Spaniard admitted he found the situation difficult to justify.
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“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) that Marc can play the final,” Guardiola said.
“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.”
In Guehi’s absence, City turned to Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake to marshal the defence against Mikel Arteta’s side. The pair delivered an assured performance, helping to secure a clean sheet against one of the Premier League’s most potent attacks.
While the victory underlined the depth and quality within Guardiola’s squad, it also highlighted the fine margins and administrative details that can shape a player’s involvement in major competitions.
For Guehi, the night at Wembley will be remembered as one of pride tinged with frustration — a reminder that success in football is not always shared equally, even within a winning team.
